The Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) submitted a formal notice to withdraw from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), effective July 1, 2026.
This comes after "extensive deliberation and strategic review" according to ABP in a statement.
“Membership in national organizations like the CCA must deliver clear value to Alberta’s cattle producers,” said Doug Roxburgh, Chair of ABP. “ABP holds high standards for fiscal transparency, governance, and communications, and we expect the same from the organizations we support. 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. We have a duty to Alberta producers to ensure their dollars are invested in organizations that reflect and advance our industry’s values.”
ABP says it will fulfill all financial obligations to the CCA up to June 30, 2026, as the organization currently funds over 50 per cent of the CCA budget through its Alberta Service Charge of two dollars per head. However, they stress the decision to withdraw does not affect funding to the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency or its service providers - Canada Beef, Public and Stakeholder Engagement, and Beef Cattle Research Council.
Tyler Fulton, President of the CCA, says they were caught off guard by the notice, calling it "disappointing".
Fulton says they reached out to ABP to clarify the claims made in their statement. He says their issues include how to sustainably fund CCA through Alberta's beef industry and other provincial members and the desire to have more Alberta representation help in the decision making process.
The ABP don't have an issue with the policy positions CCA makes or in the overall work they do, Fulton clarified, and called the wording in ABP's statement "misleading".
"So it's unfortunate language, but I am content to move on and look for a solution that would ensure that we get this issue resolved. We want to get this resolved so that ABP can come back as a member and one that is confident about the long-term future of our advocacy work" Fulton said.
The Canadian Cattle Association is comprised of provincial cattle associations from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
