|
|
(Consolidated up to 182/2009)
ALBERTA REGULATION 120/99
Marketing of Agricultural Products Act
ALBERTA PULSE GROWERS
MARKETING
PLAN REGULATION
Table of Contents
1 Definitions
2 Designation of agricultural product
Part 1
General Operation of Plan
Division 1
Plan
3 Plan continued
4 Termination of Plan
5 Application of Plan
6 Purposes of Plan
Division 2
Operation of Plan by Commission
7 Commission continued
8 Functions of Commission
9 Operation of Plan re regulations
10 Financing of Plan
11 Service charges refundable
12 Auditor and fiscal year
12.1 Authorization
13 Indemnity fund, etc.
14 Honorary memberships, etc.
15 Quorum
Part 2
Governance of Plan
Division 1
Eligible Producers
15.1 Eligible producers
16 General rights of producers
17 Producers who are individuals
18 Producers that are not individuals
Division 2
Zones
19 Zones
20 Zones set out in Schedule
27 Annual zone meeting
28 Special zone meeting
29 Quorum
Division 3
Commission
30 Composition of Commission
31 Term of office
32 Eligibility re commissioners
33 Removal from office
34 Filling vacancies by appointment
35 Annual Commission meeting
36 Special Commission meeting
37 Quorum
Part 3
Voting and Elections
38 Eligibility to vote
39 Voting
40 Voters must be on current list
41 Secret ballot
42 Returning officer
43 Result of invalid election, etc.
44 Controverted election
Part 4
Transitional Provision, Review and Repeal
45 Transitional re commissioners, etc.
46 Review
47 Repeal
Schedule
Definitions
1 In this Regulation,
(a) “Act” means the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act;
(b) “annual Commission meeting” means an annual general meeting of the commissioners and the eligible producers;
(c) “annual zone meeting” means an annual general meeting of the eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone;
(c.1) “bean grower” means an eligible producer who
(i) during the current crop year grows dry beans for sale, or
(ii) during either of the 2 immediately preceding crop years grew dry beans for sale;
(d) “broker” means a person who, for a commission or fee, brings parties together and assists in negotiating contracts between them;
(e) “Commission” means the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission;
(f) “commissioner” means a commissioner of the Commission;
(g) “Council” means the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council;
(h) “crop year” means the period from August 1 of one year to July 31 of the following year;
(i) “dealer” means a broker, packer or processor;
(i.1) “eligible producer” means a producer who qualifies as an eligible producer under section 15.1;
(j) repealed AR 338/2003 s2;
(j.1) repealed AR 182/2009 s2;
(j.2) “non‑bean grower” means an eligible producer who
(i) during the current crop year grows peas, lentils, fababeans, soybeans, lupines or chickpeas for sale, or
(ii) during either of the 2 immediately preceding crop years grew peas, lentils, fababeans, soybeans, lupines or chickpeas for sale;
(k) “packer” means a person engaged in the business of buying pulses from eligible producers for that person’s own use or for the purpose of resale at the wholesale or retail level;
(l) “person” means a person as defined in the Interpretation Act and includes
(i) a partnership as defined in the Partnership Act,
(ii) any unincorporated organization that is not a partnership referred to in subclause (i), and
(iii) any group of individuals who are carrying on an activity for a common purpose and are neither a partnership referred to in subclause (i) nor an unincorporated organization referred to in subclause (ii);
(m) “processing” means altering pulses from their raw or natural state;
(n) “processor” means a person engaged in the business of processing pulses;
(o) “producer” means a person who
(i) during the current crop year grows pulses for sale, or
(ii) during either of the 2 immediately preceding crop years grew pulses for sale;
(p) “pulse” means the dry edible seeds of the following leguminous crops:
(i) peas;
(ii) beans;
(iii) lentils;
(iv) fababeans;
(v) soybeans;
(vi) lupines;
(vii) chickpeas;
(q) “regulated product” means pulse other than pulse used for planting;
(r) “special Commission meeting” means a special general meeting of the commissioners and the eligible producers;
(s) “special zone meeting” means a special general meeting of the eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone;
(t), (u) repealed AR 182/2009 s2.
AR 120/99 s1;338/2003;182/2009
Designation of agricultural product
2 Pulse is designated as an agricultural product for the purposes of the Act.
Part 1
General Operation of Plan
Division 1
Plan
Plan continued
3 The Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan established under the Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan Regulation (AR 159/89) is hereby amended, revised and continued under this Regulation with the name “Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan”.
Termination of Plan
4 This Plan does not terminate at the conclusion of a specific period of time and remains in force unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the Act.
Application of Plan
5(1) This Plan applies
(a) to all of Alberta,
(b) to all persons in Alberta who produce or market or produce and market the regulated product, and
(c) for the purposes of section 9(a) to (d) and (h),
(i) to any dealer, and
(ii) any person who is not an eligible producer or a dealer and who markets or processes the regulated product.
(2) Any person who grows pulses on one or more parcels of land that, in the aggregate, exceed 10 acres in area and disposes of that person’s entire pulse crop by
(a) using the pulses on that person’s own farm or feedlot, or
(b) repealed AR 338/2003 s3,
(c) using a portion of the pulses on that person’s own farm or feedlot,
may in writing notify the Commission that the person wishes to be an eligible producer for the purposes of this Plan and on the Commission being so notified that person is an eligible producer under this Plan until the person either
(d) ceases growing pulses for the 2 crop years immediately succeeding the present crop year, or
(e) in writing notifies the Commission that the person no longer wishes to be an eligible producer under this Plan.
AR 120/99 s5;338/2003;81/2005;182/2009
Purposes of Plan
6 The purposes of the Plan are to do the following:
(a) to sponsor, direct and assist in research of all kinds pertaining to the furtherance and development of the pulse industry in Alberta;
(b) to provide studies and research in connection with the production and marketing of pulses, including help to eligible producers and dealers in implementing proper measures respecting the production, processing and marketing of pulses;
(c) to direct and assist in the advertising of and to promote the consumption of pulses;
(d) to work with federal and provincial agencies and with any person to improve the pulse industry;
(e) where possible, to represent the pulse industry at regional, national and international meetings;
(f) to encourage the use of standardized grades if the Commission considers it to be of benefit to the pulse industry;
(g) to represent the pulse industry at public hearings and inquiries that are of concern to eligible producers;
(h) to act as an agent on behalf of eligible producers in respect of matters relating to the Canada Revenue Agency’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program as it applies to pulses.
AR 120/99 s6;81/2005;182/2009
Division 2
Operation of Plan by Commission
Commission continued
7 The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission is hereby continued.
Functions of Commission
8 The Commission
(a) is, subject to the Act, responsible for the operation, regulation, supervision and enforcement of this Plan;
(b) must
(i) open and maintain one or more accounts in a bank, trust company, credit union, Treasury Branch or other depository, and
(ii) designate such officers, employees and other persons as are necessary to sign cheques and transact the Commission’s business with its bank, trust company, credit union, Treasury Branch or other depository;
(c) may
(i) enter into an operating line of credit or other loan agreement with its bank, trust company, credit union, Treasury Branch or other lending institution, and
(ii) designate such officers, employees and other persons as are necessary to transact the Commission’s business;
(d) must maintain such books and records, including financial records
(i) as from time to time may be required under the Act, the regulations or by virtue of any order of the Council, or
(ii) as may be determined by the Commission;
(e) must maintain an office, the location of which, at all times, is to be made known to each eligible producer and the Council;
(f) may appoint an executive director, officers, employees and agents, prescribe their duties and fix and pay their remuneration;
(g) may, subject to the Act, the regulations and any orders of the Council, issue such general orders governing the Commission’s internal operation as the commissioners may from time to time determine;
(h) may become a member of any agricultural organization;
(i) may contribute funds to any agricultural organization.
AR 120/99 s8;182/2009
Operation of Plan re regulations
9 For the purposes of enabling the Commission to operate the Plan, the Commission may be empowered by the Council, pursuant to section 26 of the Act, to make regulations,
(a) requiring any person who produces, markets or processes the regulated product to furnish to the Commission any information relating to the production, marketing or processing of the regulated product that the Commission considers necessary;
(b) requiring all dealers to be licensed under this Plan before they become engaged in the marketing or processing of pulses;
(c) prohibiting dealers from engaging in the marketing or processing of pulses except under the authority of a licence issued under this Plan;
(d) governing the issuance, suspension or cancellation of a licence issued under this Plan;
(e) providing for
(i) the assessment, charging and collection of service charges from eligible producers, from time to time, for the purposes of this Plan, and
(ii) the taking of legal action to enforce payment of the service charges;
(f) providing for a refund of service charges;
(g) requiring any dealer or other person who receives the regulated product from an eligible producer
(i) to deduct from the money payable to the eligible producer any service charges payable by the eligible producer to the Commission, and
(ii) to forward the amount deducted to the Commission;
(h) providing for the use of any class of service charges or other money payable to or received by the Commission for the purpose of paying its expenses and administering this Plan and the regulations made by the Commission.
AR 120/99 s9;182/2009
Financing of Plan
10 In accordance with the regulations,
(a) this Plan is to be financed by the charging and collection of service charges from eligible producers;
(b) the service charges are to be collected by the dealer or the person who received the pulses from the eligible producer;
(c) the service charges are to be assessed against all eligible producers on a uniform unit basis and calculated on the quantity of the various pulses sold by the eligible producers;
(d) the amount of the service charges is to be established at the annual Commission meeting;
(e) the Commission may vary the service charges
(i) at the annual Commission meeting, or
(ii) at a special Commission meeting called for that purpose.
AR 120/99 s10;182/2009
Service charges refundable
11(1) In accordance with the regulations,
(a) the service charge is refundable to an eligible producer who is a resident of Alberta, on request of the eligible producer;
(b) the request for a refund of the service charge must
(i) be made in writing on a form established by the Commission, and
(ii) contain
(A) the eligible producer’s name,
(B) the eligible producer’s mailing address and telephone number,
(C) a copy of the original cash ticket showing the deduction of the service charge, and
(D) the legal description of the land where the pulse crop was grown;
(c) requests for refunds must be received by the Commission at its head office,
(i) prior to the end of August, for service charges collected during the period commencing on the previous February 1 and ending on July 31, and
(ii) prior to the end of February, for service charges collected during the period commencing on the previous August 1 and ending on January 31;
(d) any request for a refund that is not received by the Commission within the time periods specified under clause (c) shall not be considered by the Commission and the eligible producer will not be entitled to a refund in respect of the service charges in question;
(e) the Commission must refund the service charge to the eligible producer within 90 days from the end of the period in which the request for a refund of the service charges is received, if the request complies with the regulations.
(2) In the event that within one crop year
(a) the eligible producers requesting a refund of the service charges comprise more than 35% of existing eligible producers, and
(b) those eligible producers requesting a refund account for at least 35% of the service charges collected during the current crop year,
the continued operation of this Plan shall be subject to approval by a majority of eligible producers at a plebiscite to be held under the direction of the Council pursuant to the Act.
(3) The Commission must, within 90 days following the end of a crop year, report to the Council the refunds made under this section for that crop year.
AR 120/99 s11;338/2003;182/2009
Auditor and fiscal year
12(1) The auditor for the Commission is to be appointed or selected, as the case may be, from time to time in accordance with a motion passed at an annual Commission meeting or a special Commission meeting.
(2) Unless otherwise changed pursuant to a motion passed at an annual Commission meeting or a special Commission meeting, the fiscal year of the Commission is April 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003 during that period and after that period is August 1 to the following July 31.
AR 120/99 s12;338/2003
Authorization
12.1 In accordance with section 50 of the Act, the Commission may be authorized, with respect to the production or marketing, or both, of the regulated product, to perform any function or duty and exercise any power imposed or conferred on the Commission by or under the Agricultural Products Marketing Act (Canada).
AR 81/2005 s4
Indemnity fund, etc.
13 A fund shall not be established under section 34 or 35 of the Act.
Honorary memberships, etc.
14 The Commission may establish non‑voting associate, industry, affiliate or honorary memberships under this Plan to provide interested individuals or organizations with the opportunity to contribute to the efforts of the Commission.
Quorum
15 With respect to a meeting of the commissioners, the quorum necessary for the conduct of business is a majority of the commissioners then holding office at the time of the meeting.
Part 2
Governance of Plan
Division 1
Eligible Producers
Eligible producers
15.1 For the purposes of this Plan,
(a) any producer who has paid a service charge under this Plan in a crop year is an eligible producer for that crop year;
(b) the Commission must maintain a list of eligible producers;
(c) all producers who can be identified by the Commission as having paid a service charge under this Plan during a crop year are to be included on the list of eligible producers for that crop year;
(d) any producer who is not listed on the Commission’s list of eligible producers must be added to the list where the producer can provide proof to the Commission that the producer has paid a service charge under this Plan in the crop year for which the application is made;
(e) once a producer is listed with the Commission as an eligible producer, the producer continues to be recognized as an eligible producer from crop year to crop year, unless the eligible producer ceases to pay a service charge under this Plan in 2 consecutive crop years, in which case the producer ceases to be an eligible producer;
(f) where a producer ceases to be an eligible producer under clause (e), the producer is entitled to again become an eligible producer for any crop year in which the producer pays a service charge under this Plan.
AR 182/2009 s5
General rights of producers
16 In accordance with and subject to this Plan, an eligible producer is entitled, as a matter of right,
(a) to attend annual zone meetings, special zone meetings, annual Commission meetings and special Commission meetings;
(b) to make representations on any matter pertaining to this Plan and the Commission;
(c) to vote on any matter under this Plan;
(d) to vote in any election held under this Plan;
(e) to hold office under this Plan;
(f) to vote in any plebiscites of eligible producers held under the Act.
AR 120/99 s16;182/2009
Producers who are individuals
17 Where an eligible producer is an individual, that individual may, subject to this Plan, exercise the rights of an eligible producer referred to in section 16.
AR 120/99 s17;182/2009
Producers that are not individuals
18(1) Where an eligible producer is not an individual, that eligible producer may, only in accordance with this section, exercise the rights of an eligible producer referred to in section 16.
(2) An eligible producer to which this section applies must appoint an individual to be the representative of the eligible producer.
(3) A representative appointed by an eligible producer under this section shall, subject to this Plan, exercise on behalf of the eligible producer the rights referred to in section 16.
(4) If an eligible producer is
(a) a corporation, it must appoint an individual who is a director, shareholder, member, officer or employee of the corporation as its representative,
(b) a partnership, it must appoint an individual who is a partner or employee of the partnership as its representative, or
(c) an organization, other than a corporation or a partnership, it must appoint an individual who is a member, officer or employee of the organization as its representative.
(5) An appointment of a representative under this section must be in writing.
(6) An individual who is the representative of an eligible producer shall not cast a vote under this Plan unless
(a) the individual presents a document signed by the eligible producer indicating the name of the person who may vote for the eligible producer, or
(b) the individual makes a statutory declaration stating that
(i) the individual is a representative of the eligible producer, and
(ii) the individual has not previously voted in the election or on the matter in respect of which the individual wishes to cast a vote.
(7) A statutory declaration made under subsection (6)(b) must be made in writing before the returning officer or the deputy returning officer prior to the vote being cast.
(8) An individual cannot at any one time be a representative under this section for more than one eligible producer.
AR 120/99 s18;182/2009
Division 2
Zones
Zones
19 For the purposes of this Plan, Alberta is divided into 5 zones.
Zones set out in Schedule
20 The area included in each zone is as set out in the Schedule to this Plan.
21 to 26 Repealed AR 182/2009 s6.
Annual zone meeting
27(1) An annual zone meeting must be held every year in each zone.
(1.1) At the annual zone meetings, the eligible producers in the region are to be provided with
(a) information with respect to the Commission, and
(b) an opportunity to provide the Commission with suggestions and recommendations.
(2) The annual zone meeting must be commenced at least 40 days before the day on which the next annual Commission meeting commences.
(3) The annual zone meeting is to be held at a place and on a day that the Commission in co-operation with the pulse producers in the zone may, by resolution, determine.
(4) A written notice of
(a) the day, the hour and the place of the annual zone meeting, and
(b) the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting,
must be provided to all eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone, at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(5) The order of business for the annual zone meeting is to be set by the Commission in co-operation with the pulse producers in the zone.
AR 120/99 s27;338/2003;182/2009
Special zone meeting
28(1) The Commission
(a) may on its own initiative, and
(b) must
(i) on the written request of 30% of the eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone, or
(ii) at the request of the Council,
hold a special zone meeting.
(2) A special zone meeting is to be held at a place and on a day that the Commission may, by resolution, determine.
(3) A written notice of
(a) the day, the hour and the place of the special zone meeting, and
(b) the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting,
must, at least 30 days prior to the day of the meeting, be mailed, postage paid, to all eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone.
(4) The order of business for a special zone meeting is to be set by the Commission or as requested by the Council.
(5) The provisions governing the conduct of a vote and the qualifications to vote at an annual zone meeting apply to a special zone meeting held under this section.
AR 120/99 s28;182/2009
Quorum
29 The quorum necessary for the conduct of business is,
(a) repealed AR 182/2009 s9;
(b) in the case of an annual zone meeting or a special zone meeting, not fewer than 10 eligible producers who produce pulse crops in the zone.
AR 120/99 s29;182/2009
Division 3
Commission
Composition of Commission
30(1) The Commission consists of
(a) 12 commissioners, made up of
(i) 2 commissioners from each zone who are to represent the zone,
(ii) one commissioner who is elected at large at the annual Commission meeting from among the non‑bean grower producers, and
(iii) one commissioner who is elected at large at the annual Commission meeting from among the bean grower producers,
(b) the immediate past president of the Commission, and
(c) such non‑voting advisors as may be appointed from time to time.
(2) The Commission must elect from among its members, annually,
(a) a chair of the Commission, and
(b) a vice‑chair of the Commission.
(3) The chair of the Commission is the president of the Commission and the vice‑chair of the Commission is the vice‑president of the Commission.
(4) The Commission may appoint non‑voting advisors each year to sit on the Commission in whatever capacity that the Commission considers to be in the best interests of the pulse industry.
(5) The immediate past president of the Commission is a member of the Commission for one year and is a voting member of the Commission.
AR 120/99 s30;338/2003;182/2009
Term of office
31(1) The commissioners to represent a zone
(a) hold office for 3 years, and
(b) may only hold office as a commissioner for a maximum
(i) of 2 consecutive terms, or
(ii) of 6 years,
whichever is the longest period of time.
(2) A person to whom subsection (1)(b) applies is eligible to be again elected as a commissioner if at least one year has expired since the termination of that person’s last term of office as a commissioner.
(3) The term of office of a commissioner elected at large is one year.
(3.1) A commissioner elected at large is not eligible to hold that office for more than 6 consecutive years.
(4) The president and vice‑president of the Commission hold office for one year and are not eligible to hold office as such for more than 3 consecutive years.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), a person who was president or vice‑president is once again eligible to become president or vice‑president if at least 2 years have expired since the termination of that person’s last term of office in that position.
(5.1) Subject to subsection (6), the term of office of a commissioner terminates at the end of the annual Commission meeting that is held during the commissioner’s last year of office.
(6) The non‑voting advisors hold office from the time of their appointment until the conclusion of the next annual Commission meeting.
(7) Notwithstanding subsections (1), (2), (4) and (5), a commissioner, with the approval of Council, may be elected to serve an additional consecutive term in order to enable the Commission to fulfill its commitments to a national or industry group or association of which the Commission is a member.
AR 120/99 s31;338/2003;182/2009
Eligibility re commissioners
32 To be eligible for election as a commissioner, a person must be a producer who,
(a) in the case of a commissioner to represent a zone, produces pulse crops in the zone that the person is to represent, and
(b) in the case of a commissioner at large, produces pulse crops in Alberta.
AR 120/99 s32;338/2003;182/2009
Removal from office
33(1) Where a commissioner misses 3 consecutive meetings of the Commission without reasons that the Commission considers adequate, that commissioner, on a motion passed by a majority of the members of the Commission, is deemed to have vacated that person’s position as a commissioner.
(2) Where a majority of the commissioners vote in favour of a motion to remove the president or vice‑president of the Commission, that person’s position as president or vice‑president of the Commission on the passing of the motion becomes vacant.
(3) Repealed AR 182/2009 s13.
AR 120/99 s33;182/2009
Filling vacancies by appointment
34(1) If a vacancy occurs on the Commission, the remaining commissioners may fill the vacancy by appointing an eligible individual to the vacant position.
(2) If the Council declares an election invalid, it may
(a) direct that the Commission fill the vacancy, or
(b) direct that another election be held.
(3) An individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy holds office for the remainder of the term of office of the commissioner in whose stead the individual was appointed.
(4) Where
(a) in accordance with this section a person is appointed to fill a vacancy, and
(b) the term of office served by that person pursuant to that appointment is not greater than 18 months,
the time served as a commissioner pursuant to that appointment is not to be taken into consideration for the purposes of section 31.
AR 120/99 s34;81/2005;182/2009
Annual Commission meeting
35(1) An annual Commission meeting must be held every year.
(2) The annual Commission meeting must be commenced within 180 days after the end of the Commission’s fiscal year.
(3) The annual Commission meeting is to be held at a place and on a day that the Commission may, by resolution, determine.
(4) A written notice of
(a) the day, the hour and the place of the annual Commission meeting, and
(b) the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting
must be provided to all eligible producers at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(5) The order of business for the annual Commission meeting is to
(a) be set by the Commission, and
(b) include the following:
(i) the annual reports of the chair and the general manager;
(ii) an audited report of the finances for the past fiscal year;
(iii) a motion to appoint or select an auditor for the ensuing year;
(iv) any business properly brought before the meeting.
AR 120/99 s35;338/2003;182/2009
Special Commission meeting
36(1) The Commission
(a) may on its own initiative, and
(b) must
(i) on the written request of 30% of the eligible producers, or
(ii) at the request of the Council,
hold a special Commission meeting.
(2) A special Commission meeting is to be held at a place and on a day that the Commission, by resolution, determines.
(3) A written notice of
(a) the day, the hour and the place of the special Commission meeting, and
(b) the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting,
must, at least 30 days prior to the day of the meeting, be mailed, postage paid, to all the eligible producers.
(4) The order of business for a special Commission meeting is to be set by the Commission or as requested by the Council.
(5) The provisions governing the conduct of a vote and the qualifications to vote at an annual Commission meeting apply to a special Commission meeting held under this section.
AR 120/99 s36;182/2009
Quorum
37 The quorum necessary for the conduct of business at an annual Commission meeting or a special Commission meeting is not fewer than 40 eligible producers.
AR 120/99 s37;182/2009
Part 3
Voting and Elections
Eligibility to vote
38(1) A person is eligible to vote on any question put to a vote at an annual Commission meeting or in an election for a commissioner if the person is an eligible producer who
(a) produces pulse crops in Alberta, and
(b) is present at the meeting at which the vote is held.
(2) A person is eligible to vote on any question put to a vote at an annual zone meeting if the person is an eligible producer who
(a) produces pulse crops in the zone, and
(b) is present at the meeting at which the vote is held.
AR 120/99 s38;182/2009
Voting
39 An eligible producer who is eligible to vote under this Plan may
(a) vote once on each matter, and
(b) vote for any number of candidates not exceeding the number of members to be elected to the positions that are up for election at a meeting,
notwithstanding that the individual may manage or operate or own, lease or hold equity in 2 or more operations.
AR 120/99 s30;182/2009
Voters must be on current list
40(1) An eligible producer shall not cast a vote under this Plan unless that person’s name appears on the current list of eligible producers maintained by the Commission.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where the name of an eligible producer does not appear on the current list of eligible producers, that eligible producer may nevertheless vote, if
(a) in the case of an eligible producer who is an individual, that eligible producer makes a statutory declaration that the producer has paid a service charge under this Plan within the preceding 12 months, and
(b) in the case of an eligible producer that is not an individual, the representative of that eligible producer makes a statutory declaration in accordance with section 18(6)(b) and includes on the statutory declaration a statement that the producer has paid a service charge under this Plan within the preceding 12 months.
AR 120/99 s40;182/2009
Secret ballot
41 When so requested by 3 eligible producers in attendance at a meeting, a vote carried out under this Plan at that meeting must be carried out by means of a secret ballot.
AR 120/99 s41;182/2009
Returning officer
42(1) Subject to subsection (2), the secretary of the Commission is the returning officer for the purposes of an election or vote taken under this Plan.
(2) The Commission may appoint an individual other than the secretary to act as the returning officer for the purposes of an election or vote taken under this Plan.
(3) The returning officer may appoint individuals as deputy returning officers to assist in the conduct of elections and votes under this Plan.
(4) The returning officer
(a) is to ensure that a person does not cast a vote, except in accordance with this Plan, and
(b) must permit scrutiny of the actions of the returning officer and the deputy returning officers by a scrutineer in respect of the conduct of a vote taken under this Plan.
(5) Unless otherwise directed by the Commission no returning officer or other person shall destroy any records or ballots in respect of a vote or election held under this Plan until 90 days have elapsed from the day on which the vote was taken.
AR 120/99 s42;182/2009
Result of invalid election, etc.
43(1) If
(a) an election is held under this Plan, and
(b) there is not in attendance at the meeting at which the election is held a quorum of persons who are eligible to vote at the election,
the election is void and the position for which the election was held is vacant.
(2) Notwithstanding that a position is vacant by virtue of subsection (1), the term of office of the vacant position is nevertheless deemed to have commenced as if an individual had been elected to the position.
(3) If a position is vacant under this section, the Commission must in accordance with section 34 fill the position by appointing, from eligible producers eligible to be elected to that position, an individual to fill that position.
AR 120/99 s43;182/2009
Controverted election
44(1) If an eligible producer
(a) questions
(i) the eligibility of a candidate,
(ii) the eligibility of a voter,
(iii) any matter relating to a ballot or the tabulation of ballots, or
(iv) any other irregularity with respect to the conduct of an election,
and
(b) seeks to have the election declared invalid and the position declared vacant,
that eligible producer may, not later than 30 days after the day on which the election was held, apply in writing to the Council to have the election declared invalid and the position declared vacant.
(2) If, within the 30‑day period referred to in subsection (1), the Council has not received an application under subsection (1), a person elected at that election is deemed to be duly elected.
(3) On receipt of an application under subsection (1), the Council must consider the matter and may
(a) declare the election to be proper and the position filled, if, in the opinion of the Council, there is no basis for the application,
(b) declare the election to be proper and the position filled, notwithstanding that there is a basis for the application, if, in the opinion of the Council,
(i) the basis for the application did not materially affect the result of the election, and
(ii) the election was conducted substantially in accordance with this Plan and the Act,
or
(c) declare the election to be void and the position vacant, if, in the opinion of the Council, there is a basis for the application and the basis is sufficient to, or did, affect the result of the election.
(4) Notwithstanding that an election is declared void and a position is declared vacant under subsection (3)(c), the term of office of the position declared vacant is nevertheless deemed to have commenced on the day that the voided election was held.
(5) If the Council declares an election to be void and the position vacant, the Council may
(a) order that, within the time that the Council considers proper, a special meeting be held and an election be conducted to fill the vacant position, or
(b) direct the Commission to fill the vacant position in accordance with section 34.
AR 120/99 s44;182/2009
Part 4
Transitional Provision, Review
and Repeal
Transitional re commissioners, etc.
45(1) In this section, “officials” means commissioners, president and vice‑president of the Commission.
(2) The officials who held office immediately before the coming into force of this Regulation continue to hold office until their terms of office expire, or their successors to the positions are sooner elected or they are replaced under this Regulation.
AR 120/99 s45/182/2009
Review
46 In compliance with the ongoing regulatory review initiative, this Regulation must be reviewed on or before June 30, 2014.
AR 120/99 s46;338/2003;182/2009
Repeal
47 The Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan Regulation (AR 159/89) is repealed.
Schedule
Zones
1 Zone 1 is made up of the area that is included in the following:
(a) Vulcan County;
(b) County of Newell No. 4;
(c) County of Warner No. 5;
(d) County of Forty Mile No. 8;
(e) Wheatland County;
(f) County of Lethbridge;
(g) Cypress County;
(h) Cardston County;
(i) Municipal District of Taber;
(j) Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26;
(k) Municipal District of Foothills No. 31;
(l) Municipal District of Acadia No. 34;
(m) Municipal District of Ranchland No. 66;
(n) Kananaskis Improvement District;
(o) Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9;
(o.1) Improvement District No. 4 (Waterton);
(o.2) Municipality of Crowsnest Pass;
(p) any city, town or village that is encompassed by the area described in clauses (a) to (o.2).
2 Zone 2 is made up of the area that is included in the following:
(a) Ponoka County;
(b) County of Stettler No. 6;
(c) County of Wetaskiwin No. 10;
(d) Lacombe County;
(e) Mountain View County;
(f) County of Paintearth No. 18;
(g) Red Deer County;
(h) Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8;
(i) Municipal District of Rocky View No. 44;
(j) Starland County;
(k) Kneehill County;
(l) Clearwater County;
(m) Special Area No. 2;
(n) Special Area No. 3;
(o) Special Area No. 4;
(o.1) Improvement District No. 9 (Banff);
(o.2) City of Calgary;
(o.3) Town of Drumheller;
(p) any city, town or village that is encompassed by the area described in clauses (a) to (o.1).
3 Zone 3 is made up of the area that is included in the following:
(a) County of Thorhild No. 7;
(b) County of Barrhead No. 11;
(c) County of Athabasca No. 12;
(d) Strathcona County;
(e) Leduc County;
(f) Lac Ste. Anne County;
(g) Parkland County;
(h) Woodlands County;
(i) Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17;
(j) Brazeau County;
(k) Sturgeon County;
(l) Westlock County;
(m) Yellowhead County;
(n) Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124;
(n.1) Improvement District No. 12 (Jasper);
(n.2) Improvement District No. 25 (Willmore Wilderness);
(o) any city, town or village that is encompassed by the area described in clauses (a) to (n.2).
4 Zone 4 is made up of the area that is included in the following:
(a) County of Grande Prairie No. 1;
(b) Municipal District of Greenview No. 16;
(c) Birch Hills County;
(d) Saddle Hills County;
(e) Municipal District of Northern Lights No. 22;
(f) Mackenzie County;
(g) Municipal District of Big Lakes;
(h) Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130;
(i) Northern Sunrise County;
(j) Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133;
(k) Municipal District of Peace No. 135;
(l) Municipal District of Fairview No. 136;
(m) Clear Hills County;
(n) any city, town or village that is encompassed by the area described in clauses (a) to (m).
5 Zone 5 is made up of the area that is included in the following:
(a) Beaver County;
(b) Smoky Lake County;
(c) County of St. Paul No. 19;
(d) County of Two Hills No. 21;
(e) Camrose County;
(f) County of Vermilion River;
(g) County of Minburn No. 27;
(h) Flagstaff County;
(i) Lamont County;
(j) Municipal District of Provost No. 52;
(k) Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61;
(l) Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87;
(m) Lac La Biche County;
(m.1) Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo;
(m.2) Improvement District No. 24 (Wood Buffalo);
(m.3) Improvement District No. 13 (Elk Island);
(n) any city, town or village that is encompassed by the area described in clauses (a) to (m.3).
AR 120/99 Sched.;81/2005;212/2005;182/2009
