ROLE OF THE MINISTER’S REPRESENTATIVE
In order to assist a board, the Minister may designate an employee as a Minister's
Representative with the following roles:
·
To advise the board on government programs, agricultural problems and needs of
industry.
·
To assist the board, on the request of the board, in the discharge of its duties.
With the loss of the District Agriculturalist and the District Home Economist, the Minister's
Representative is any employee of Alberta Agriculture. At the request of the municipality a
Minister's Representative is available to attend ASB meetings to address specific issues.
For example, if the Board requires an update on Fusarium or Clubroot, the Minister's
Representative will likely come from the Pest Surveillance Branch. The ASB Supervisor is
also a representative of the Minister as identified in the ASB Program Funding Agreement
and shall act as a liaison between the ASBs and the Minister of Agriculture. In addition,
needs and concerns of the ASB and its municipality that are related to responsibilities
under the legislation of the
ASB Act
and related Acts and regulations can also be addressed
by the ASB Supervisor.
At an ASB meeting, the Minister's Representative is not in attendance to lead, but to guide
by providing advice on agricultural issues, as a technical resource, and to clarify the
position of government. The Minister's Representative that attends a meeting becomes a
non-voting member of the ASB for that meeting.
In addition to the Minister designating a representative to assist ASBs, the Minister may
enter into an agreement with Council to address the following issues and make payments
provided for in the agreement.
·
To provide assistance in soil and water conservation;
·
For control of weeds and pests;
·
For control of any livestock disease;
·
To implement any other agricultural policies considered necessary.
The agreement between the Minister and the Council may provide for:
·
Assistance towards the administration and provision of services, material,
equipment and labor in conducting approved programs and policies.
·
Assistance towards conducting educational programs
·
Payment of expenses necessary in the control of livestock disease under the
Animal
Health Act
.
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