Alberta Beef Producers is cutting ties with the Canadian Cattle Association, saying the national body has failed to meet basic standards of transparency, governance, and communication.The move takes effect July 1, 2026 — but ABP says the problems have been building for years.“Membership in national organizations like the CCA must deliver clear value to Alberta’s cattle producers,” said ABP chair Doug Roxburgh. “The CCA does not meet those standards. After seeing no meaningful progress or willingness to change, we’ve made the decision to withdraw our membership.”ABP gave the CCA a formal list of grievances this week, making sure the national group saw the details before they went public. While the document is new, ABP says it’s been flagging the same problems for a long time..MOOOVING ON UP: Alberta beefing up access to capital for cattle producers.The group is leaving the door open to “respectful dialogue” — but only if CCA is ready to deal with the issues head-on.ABP wants provincial funding assessments to be based on retained marketings across all provinces — not just the current system — to make sure the process is fair.They also insist on keeping the $0.53 assessment rate and want an elected Finance Chair inside CCA to strengthen oversight.They say there must be regular proof that an active Audit Committee is actually doing its job.ABP says the current frozen board structure is unfair. They pay over half of CCA’s budget — but hold just seven of 24 board seats. They also want the freeze lifted and the representation formula changed to reflect financial contributions.Other demands include hiring the CCA’s top executive through an independent search firm, setting up a formal Governance Committee, and bringing in a third party to do a full review of the CCA’s structure.ABP also reminds the CCA that it’s run by nine member provinces — not 60,000 individual producers.According to ABP, elected reps and provincial groups aren’t getting enough time to review and debate key issues before decisions are made.General Manager Brad Dubeau says Alberta’s beef industry won’t lose its voice.“We have mapped a strong path forward to ensure Alberta’s voice continues to be heard — provincially, nationally, and internationally,” he said..Canadian beef regains access to Australian market after 22-year ban .ABP will keep paying its dues until the current agreement ends on June 30, 2026. The group currently funds more than 50% of CCA’s budget through the $2.00 Alberta Service Charge.The withdrawal won’t affect money going to the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency ($2.50 National Levy) or its service providers — Canada Beef, Public and Stakeholder Engagement, and the Beef Cattle Research Council.ABP says it has just finished its own major overhaul and believes “evolution is the only constant” in effective organizations. It’s now prioritizing the long-term strength of its provincial operations — and it wants the CCA to do the same.The group is now urging cattle producers to attend meetings in January and February to talk about the decision and the industry’s future.They’re also asking eligible producers to run as delegates — and for delegates to consider stepping up as board members.“By strengthening ABP, they help ensure Alberta’s beef producers have a clear and effective voice,” the group said.
