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Table 1. Ontario Cattlemen’s Association- Government Relations Efforts from May 20-December 14, 2004.     

General Activities

In 2003 and 2004, most of OCA’s activities since May 20 were centered around the BSE crisis. Here’s just a sample of some of the activities and lobbying efforts that directors, councillors and staff have been involved in.

Communications with Producers

• 150+ updates to OCA councillors, directors and speak up team members as well as to processors, sales barns, dealers and other industry representatives.
• 100+ updates to almost 1,000 producers on the email list (subscribe by sending your name and email address to The OCA Email)
• Two mailings to 19,000 producers on Ontario Beef mailing list in June and July (each costing $20,000)
• August, October, December, 2003; February, May and August 2004 Ontario Beef magazines dedicated to BSE
• 22 weekly BSE update columns in Ontario Farmer newspaper
• Hundreds of producer emails/phone calls
• 40+ pages on the OCA website devoted entirely to BSE (updated daily)
• Assistance with presentation development for regional BSE meetings across the province
• Attendance by board and staff at more than a dozen regional BSE meetings as organized by councillors
• Two BSE planning sessions with members of OCA’s advisory council

Government Lobbying

• 40+ meetings with Minister Johns, Minister Peters, Minister Vanclief, Minister Speller and/or their top staff
• Meeting with Prime Minister Martin
• Letters to every Ontario MPP (June 12, August 22,2003); BSE information packages to all Ontario MPPs following the election (October 30); copies of all Ontario Beef magazines to all Ontario MPPs and MPs
• Letters and packages to all Ontario MPs following June, 2004 federal election.
• Barbecue at Queen's Park (June 16, 2004) for all MPPs and their staff.
• Letters to every Canadian Senator (June 13, August 22)
• Letters to every Ontario M.P. (June 12, July 28, August 22)
• Attendance at two federal/provincial Minister of Agriculture meetings
• Data analysis and lobby in support of coverage of extraordinary negative margins through the Canadian Income Stabilization Program (CAIS)
• Lobbying for all compensation programs - Recommending changes to all programs
• Joint OCA/OFA lobby to Federal Finance Minister John Manley asking for a tax deferral program for producers affected by BSE. This request has been supported by BDO Dunwoody and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
• Joint OCA/Ontario Corn Producers’ Association lobby for the fall cash advance program to be extended to cover corn silage
• Numerous meetings with OMAF and OSPCA on potential humane slaughter programs for livestock with immediate needs and emergency feed programs.
• Trip with Minister Johns to Michigan and Pennsylvania to visit with State Department of Agriculture representatives.
• Lobbied (unsuccessfully) for a national beef industry crisis centre (similar to those created by government during the ice storm and the 2003 black out).
• Lobbied and received Ontario programs (phases two and three) similar to those announced in Alberta – designed to deal with all cattle on feed as of May 20 that were not covered under other programs.
• Provided BSE background information to the Canadian Association of Rural Municipalities.
• Assisted with publicity and organization and participated in the Great Canadian Cattle Drive
• Meetings with Peter MacKay (Federal PC Leader), Canadian Alliance Party Shadow Cabinet and Liberal Rural Caucus.
• Meeting with Dalton McGuinty at the London Free Press regarding meat inspection and BSE.
• Requested and published Ontario political party positions on BSE and meat inspection prior to the provincial election.
• Attendance by Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ministers Peter and Speller at OCA Annual Convention.
• Presentation by CFIA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Brian Evans at OCA Annual Convention.
• Cohosted BSE Awareness/Appreciation beef barbecue at Queen's Park for MPPs (400 people attended)

Market Information

• Worked closely with government and industry to analyze data to determine reference pricing
• Researched and compiled statistical information for OMAF for compensation programs
• Daily contact with OMAF and AAFC on programs in order to remain current for member inquiries
• Continued communication with sales barns
• Tracked weekly losses to Ontario producers (Now at $138 million in the feedlot sector as of March, 2004)
• Started a cattle on feed report as a result of the BSE situation

National Liaison

• Over 150 conference calls with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada Beef Export Federation, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Representation on national working groups dealing with compensation, feed ban, tracing animal movements, domestic markets and commercial beef utilization.
• Worked with CCA to develop a unified industry position on the CAIS program.
• Hosted Korean and Chinese trade delegations to Ontario providing information about the BSE case and promoting Ontario beef.
• Hosted four Canada Beef Export Federation Asian trade delegations between January and March.

Communications with the Public

• 25 widely distributed press releases
• 500+ national media interviews
• 100 Letters to the Editor in Ontario newspapers
• Opinion Pieces submitted by local farmers to daily newspapers across the province
• Responded to dozens of consumer emails
• Assistance with several county-organized BSE awareness events.
• Promotional and donation assistance with Kinsmen/Kinette BBQ Canada Labour Day weekend event.
• Letters to all 197 Ontario M&M stores encouraging them to source only Canadian beef. Similar letters to other retailers, hotels and restaurants.
• Worked with General Motors on handouts for 10,000 person employee beef barbecue in support of industry
• Worked with Pioneer Hi-bred on materials for 220-employee beef barbecue in support of industry.
• Worked with Co-operators Insurance on materials for employee beef barbecue
• Development of large consumer exhibit on BSE for display at CNE, International Plowing match and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Other

• Conference calls with representatives from the Canadian Bankers’ Association and individual lending institutions to ensure bankers are current on the crisis.
• Successfully applied to the Agricultural Adaptation Council for funds to hire industry consultant Charlie Gracey to work with OCA on the development of an action plan to help ensure the industry’s survival.
• Convened meeting of packers, dealers, graders, auction barn operators, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the provincial government and other industry representatives to discuss issues arising from the use of dentition as a means of aging cattle. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has instituted the under 30-month rule for cattle as a measure to protect human health.
• Meeting with the Board of Directors of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to discuss BSE crisis.

Activities by day - Updated September 21, 2004

• May 21 – June 6 – Daily Conference Calls with OCA Board and Speak Up team
• May 21 – June 11 – Daily Conference Calls with CFIA
• May 21 to June 11 – Daily Conference Calls with CCA (and then as needed)
• May 22 – Studio 2 television show (Mike McMorris)
• May 23 - Meeting with Minister Johns in Kincardine (Ron Wooddisse, Ian McKillop, Dale Pallister and Mike McMorris)
• May 26 – Ag Critic Meeting Plantagenet (John Newman)
• May 28 – Met with Deputy Minister Frank Ingratta; Goldhawk Live television show
• May 28-30: Media interviews CTV (Canada AM), CBC, CFRA, CBC Radio Morning,
• May 29 - Stakeholder meeting at Queen’s Park with Minister Johns (attending were OCA, OCFA, OLAMA, OLDA, DFO, rendering, deadstock, OIMP, CCGD, CLGA)
• May 30 – Participated in conference call with RBC Agricultural managers to give a BSE update (Mike McMorris)
• June 2 – OCA Board meeting in Kingston. Meeting with Eastern Ontario Councillors and local politicians
• June 3 – Call for all councillors, board members and producers to contact MPs and MPPs
• June 3 – Letter to Ontario Rural Caucus
• June 4-5 –Meeting with AAFC officials in Ottawa (Mike McMorris, Stan Eby and John Gillespie)
• June 5 –Lyle Vanclief function in Belleville (Ron Wooddisse)
• June 6 – Meeting with top OMAF officials (Ron Wooddisse, Dale Pallister, Doug Kaufman and John Gillespie)
• June 10-11 – Speak Up team media training for BSE
• June 10-11 – Meeting with Federation des produteurs de bovins de Quebec (Mike McMorris, Ron Wooddisse, Stan Eby and Elaine Graham)
• June 11 – OCA Feedlot Committee meeting
• June 12 – BSE Stakeholders’ meeting at Queen’s Park
• June 13 –Federal/Provincial Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting in Vancouver (Ron Wooddisse)
• June 15 – BSE Domestic Recovery Plan (John Newman)
• June 16 – OCA Board Conference Call
• June 17 –BSE information update at cow/calf meeting in Grey County (Paul Stiles and Dan Ferguson)
• June 18 – OCA Board Conference Call
• June 20 – OCA working group met to discuss program details and issues.
• June 23-24 –APF Beef Roundtable meeting in Ottawa (Mike McMorris and Stan Eby)
• June 24 – OCA Board Conference Call (program reference price/ compensation program)
• June 25 – OMAF BSE meeting
• July 1 – BSE Information Meeting in Hanover (Mike McMorris)
• July 2 – OCA Board Conference Call
• July 3 – BSE Information meeting at Hoards Station (Kim Sytsma and Doug Lewis). Approximately 400 producers in attendance.
• July 3 – BSE Information meeting at Kingston Sales Barn (Kim Sytsma and Doug Lewis). Several hundred producers in attendance.
• July 4 – Northumberland Beef Barbecue (Kim Sytsma). Gave overview of investigation. About 150 in attendance.
• July 7 – Reception with Ernie Eves, Jeb Bush in Toronto (Ron Wooddisse)
• July 8 – Met with FCC representatives to discuss BSE issue.
• July 8-9 –Federal/Provincial Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting in Winnipeg (Ron Wooddisse)
• July 9 – Meetings with Metro-Richelieu (Montreal) and Loblaws (John Newman)
• July 9 – Meeting with Lyle Vanclief in Winnipeg (Stan Eby)
• July 9 – BSE Information Meeting in Metcalfe (John Newman)
• July 10 – BSE Information Meeting in Metcalfe.
• July 10 or 11 - Minister Johns holds Industry Stakeholder meeting in Toronto
• July 16 – OFA Board meeting to give talk on BSE (Ian McKillop and Kelly Daynard)
• July 17 – Simcoe BSE meeting (Curtis Royal)
• July 17 – Participated in Bankers conference call
• July 17 – Peel/Halton BSE meeting and barbecue (Mike McMorris)
• July 21 – Met with Deputy Minister Frank Ingratta
• July 21 – BSE Meeting in Chatham (Mike McMorris, Ian McKillop, Gord Hardy)
• July 21 – Ernie Eves golf tournament (Ron Wooddisse and Dan Ferguson speak and hand out hamburgers)
• July 22 – OCA Board meeting and Advisory Meeting (attended by Minister Johns)
• July 23 – OCA Board and Advisory Meeting (Board meeting attended by Frank Ingratta and Jim Wheeler)
• July 24 – BSE Information meeting in Jarvis (Mike McMorris)
• July 25 – BSE Press Conference by Ernie Eves at Gord Hardy’s Farm in Middlesex
• July 25 – BSE Information meting in Manitoulin (Jim Martin)
• July 28 – Board met with OMAF Director of Policy, Dave Hope, re: BSE
• July 30 – Board met with senior policy OMAF staff to discuss $17.5 million program
• July 30 – SARStock in Toronto – ( Ron Wooddisse participated in beef barbecue)
• July 30 – BSE Information meeting in Wellington County. (Ron Wooddisse)
• July 31 – BSE Information Meeting in Cobden (John Newman and Kim Sytsma). About 450 producers in attendance as well as John Ross (AAFC), Dave Hope (OMAF) and Cheryl Gallant (M.P.)
• August 1 – BSE Information Meeting in Temiskaming (Jim Martin)
• August 1 – Issued blank form letter to M.P.s and M.P.P.s to be signed by producers
• August 3 – Peterborough Barbecue (Kim Sytsma). About 250 producers in attendance.
• August 4 – Meeting with OMAF Director of Policy, Dave Hope, to discuss establishing a working group to develop immediate, mid-term and long-term planning for industry. Agreement to have Charlie Gracey lead documentation of the crisis and assist in further planning and visioning. (Ian McKillop and Mike McMorris)
• August 4 – BSE Information Meeting in Cobden (John Newman)
• August 5 – BSE Information meeting in St. Albert (250 producers). (John Newman and Kim Sytsma)
• August 5 – BSE meeting at Carson’s in Listowel with MPP Bert Johnston (Ron Wooddisse)
• August 5 – Assisted Mayor of North Perth in preparing speaking notes and motion to be presented to AMO.
• August 6 – BSE Information Meeting in Algoma (Jim Martin)
• August 6 – BSE Information meeting in Richmond. (150 producers) (John Newman and Kim Sytsma)
• August 6 – Met with Jim Wadleigh, Manager, Land O’Lakes Farmland Feed to discuss their support of OCA efforts (Mike McMorris)
• August 7 – Meeting in Ottawa to discuss CCA analysis of CAIS with respect to BSE (Mike McMorris)
• August 7 – BSE Information meeting in Lombardy for 250 producers. (John Newman and Kim Sytsma).
• August 7 –OACC meeting (Curtis Royal, Dale Pallister, John Gillespie and Chris Palmer).
• August 8 – Meeting with OSPCA, OMAF and other livestock commodities to plan for emergency welfare and/or cull issues (Isabel Dopta)
• August 9 – Talk on BSE at Canadian Simmental Association meeting in Roblyn, Manitoba. (Ron Wooddisse)
• August 11-12 – Tour by Minister Johns, Ron Bonnett, Ron Wooddisse and Mike McMorris to Michigan and Pennsylvania to meet with State Departments of Agriculture.
• August 13-18 – CCA Semi-Annual Meeting in Moose Jaw (Mike McMorris, John Newman, Kim Sytsma, Ron Wooddisse, Ian McKillop, Dale Pallister and Doug Kaufman)
• August 19 – BSE Meeting in Peterborough (John Newman) 75 producers in attendance.
• August 19 – Meeting of the Federal Rural Caucus (attended by Jim Martin and Jack Tindall)
• August 19 – OCA Board Conference Call to discuss development of BSE Task Force
• August 19 – Meeting with BIO and Charlie Gracey to discuss industry’s needs for long term planning (Isabel Dopta)
• August 20 – Cross Ottawa Barbecue (20 locations) in support of beef producers (John Newman)
• August 20 – BSE Meeting in Packenham (John Newman) Also attended by Norm Stirling (Attorney General) and Scott Reid (MP)
• August 20 – Meeting with OMAF to plan for mid range and long term industry needs (Isabel Dopta)
• August 20 – Brussels barbecue in support of beef industry (Kelly Daynard, Isabel Dopta, Ron Wooddisse, Dale Pallister)
• August 21 – Land O’Lakes donation of $22,022 to OCA in Kitchener (Ron Wooddisse and Kelly Daynard )
• August 22 – McDonald’s Beef Giveaway in Kingston (Kim Sytsma). Also attended by Lyle Vanclief. Event was to recognize national McDonald’s beef promotion and sandwich giveaway.
• August 22 – Letters to every M.P., M.P.P. and Senator with a copy of Ontario Beef magazine, an Ontario Beef industry fact sheet and a bumper sticker.
• August 22 – Letter to Lyle Vanclief requesting program extension due to BSE blackout.
• August 25 – Interview with Canada AM (CTV) and CBC (John Newman)
• August 26 – Hastings/Prince Edward BSE Meeting (John Newman and Kim Sytsma)
• August 29 – BSE meeting at the Warkworth Arena (Kim Sytsma)
• August 29 – OCA Board Conference Call
• September 3 – Meeting with the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council to finalize a lobby strategy around BSE and the Agricultural Policy Framework (lobby to include meetings with all Ontario M.P.s)
• September 4 – Meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming
• September 4 – Shurgain BSE Meeting in Tavistock (Gord Hardy and Kelly Daynard)
• September 5 – Meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming
• September 8 – Meeting with Brian Hughes of the Agricultural Commodity Council to discuss BSE issues and the idea of whole plant silage being covered in advances to producers.
• September 9-11 – Staff and Directors at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to talk about BSE
• September 10 – OCA Board Conference Call to discuss Great Canadian Cattle Drive
• September 11 – Conference call with Peter MacKay, leader of the Federal Conservative Party (Mike McMorris and Ian McKillop)
• September 12 – OCA Task Force meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming
• September 15 - BSE Information Meeting in St. Albert (Ron Wooddisse)
• September 16 - BSE Information Meeting in Victoria County (John Gillespie and Isabel Dopta)
• September 17 - Great Canadian Cattle Drive Rally on Parliament Hill, meetings with Liberal rural caucus and Alliance Shadow Cabinet.
• September 19 - BSE Task Force meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming
• September 22 - Federal/Provincial Agricultural Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa (Ron Wooddisse)
• September 23 – Talk to a group of OVC students at the University of Guelph (Isabel Dopta)
• September 24 – OCA Board Meeting
• September 25 – Meeting with Liberal Rural Caucus (John Newman); Meeting with Royal Bank Agricultural Advisory Committee (Mike McMorris); Meeting with Dalton McGuinty (Gord Hardy)
• September 26 – BSE Task Force meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming.
• September 26 – Letter to Minister Johns requesting emergency meeting to discuss cull cow issue.
• September 30 – BSE Information meeting in Fergus (Ron Wooddisse, Mike McMorris and Kelly Daynard)
• October 3 – Letter to Premier-Elect Dalton McGuinty requesting a meeting to discuss BSE situation; Conference Call with the Canadian Bankers’ Association; CCA/Industry meeting with Lyle Vanclief (Ian McKillop and Stan Eby)
• October 3 – BSE Task Force meeting with top OMAF staff to discuss phase three programming.
• October 7 – OFA-led "President’s Council" meeting at Queen’s Park (Ron Wooddisse and Mike McMorris)
• October 8 – Canadian Federation of Agriculture Safety Net committee conference call to discuss BSE
• October 8 – CCA conference call to discuss BSE
• October 14 – OCA Board meeting (primary topic was BSE)
• October 16 – BIO Board meeting to discuss BSE
• October 20 – Ontario cull cow strategy meeting (OMAF, OLDA, OLAMA, DFO, OCA)
• October 23 – Letters to Minister Peters congratulating him on his appointment and asking for an immediate meeting to discuss the BSE crisis.
• October 28 – Met with a group of Chinese senior bureaucrats to talk about the Ontario beef industry and the BSE crisis (Kelly Daynard)
• October 30 – Meetings with Minister Peters and his top staff regarding BSE, the Agricultural Policy Framework and Ontario’s position on a proposed federal cull cow program. Meeting items also included the need for payment for phase 3A disaster relief to be based on the sales date rather than the slaughter date and continued funding of the Quality Starts Here program.
• October 30 – Mailed congratulatory letters and BSE information packages to all Ontario M.P.P.s
• November 3-4 – Attendance at the National Beef Roundtable meeting in Ottawa (Ian McKillop, John Newman, Stan Eby and Mike McMorris
• November 4 – Attendance at OACC’s reception to welcome Minister Peters (Ron Wooddisse and Isabel Dopta)
• November 6 – Livestock (red meat) members of OACC met to develop messaging around cash advances and coverage of extraordinary negative margins
• November 6 – Attendance at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair press conference to provide background on BSE (Ron Wooddisse)
• November 10 – Government Relations Firm workshop in Toronto on an analysis of the new Liberal government
• November 10 – OMAF US Border Regulations Symposium
• November 17 – 16 – Large BSE booth and education centre at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair educating consumers on the impact to the beef industry and the Canadian economy
• November 10 – Agricultural and Agri Food Canada meeting with livestock groups to discuss production insurance and cash advances
• November 17 – OCA Board conference call to discuss the CAIS program and OCA’s new cull cow position paper
• November 18 – Talk to the Grey Federation of Agriculture about the BSE crisis (Dale Pallister)
• November 19 – BSE task force meeting (OCA representatives)
• November 19 – Presentation to the University of Guelph’s Agricultural Communications Club on the need for effective crisis communications. (Kelly Daynard)
• November 20 – Presentation to the Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Association about BSE (Mike McMorris)
• November 20 - Middlesex/Elgin Cattlemen's Beef Information Night (Ian McKillop and Gord Hardy)
• November 24 – Meeting with Minister Steve Peters
• November 26 – Meeting with Gencor to discuss their conditional offer of the former MGI plant and potential areas for cooperation.
• November 27 – Talk to the Middlesex Soil and Crop Improvement Association on the need for effective crisis communications (Kelly Daynard)
• December 1 – OACC meeting to talk about signing of APF
• December 1-2 – OCA Board/Advisory Council meeting in Cobourg – focus on BSE
• December 3 - Talk to the Huron/Perth Shorthorn Club on the need for effective crisis communications (Kelly Daynard)
• December 5 – Meeting with the York Cattlemen’s Association on BSE (Mike McMorris)
• December 8 – Ontario BSE Task Force meeting with Deputy Minister Frank Ingratta to discuss Ontario’s cull cow situation.
• December 9 – Addressed annual meeting of Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission on BSE (Mike McMorris)
• December 10 – Met with members of Ontario Livestock Auction Markets Association on BSE.
• December 10 – Alberta Beef Producers’ Annual Meeting in Calgary (Ron Wooddisse)
• December 11 – Deadstock meeting with renderers and collectors, hosted by Minister Peters.
• December 15 – Meeting with the University of Guelph regarding resources that the U of G could loan to the beef industry during this crisis.
• December 16 – Meeting with CCA Executive Director Dennis Laycraft to discuss CCA’s submission on the USDA proposed rules (all Ontario CCA directors)
• December 18 – OMAF all beef industry BSE meeting
• December 18 – Cull cow strategy planning meeting with Minister Peters
• December 23-30 – Numerous conference calls with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association regarding the case of BSE in Washington State.
• December 31 – Minister Peters’ all-industry BSE stakeholders’ meeting at OMAF building in Guelph.
• January 4-January 23 – Directors and staff attended 45 county cattlemen’s association annual meetings to talk about BSE.
• January 8 – Meeting with OMAF’s Steve Duff to explore options regarding cash flow through CAIS payments.
• January 10 – Addressed attendees to Grey/Bruce Farmers’ Week on BSE (Ron Wooddisse)
• January 10-11 – Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association annual meeting (Ron Wooddisse, Ian McKillop, Dale Pallister, Curtis Royal, Doug Kaufman)
• January 13 – OCA co-hosted a reception for a Canada Beef Export Federation delegation from Japan.
• January 20 – Feedlot committee meeting at OCA to discuss BSE.
• January 26 – OCA Board meeting (primary topics of discussion centered around BSE)
• January 28-31 – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona (Stan Eby, Larry Chanda, Ron Wooddisse, John Gillespie)
• February 1 - National Beef Roundtable meeting, Calgary (Ian McKillop); Canadian Beef Grading Agency meeting, Calgary (Ron Wooddisse); Canadian Meat Council meeting, Calgary (Mike McMorris)
• February 4 - Meeting with Minister Steve Peters (Mike McMorris, Ian McKillop, Ron Wooddisse)
• February 4 – Canada Beef Export Federation semi annual meeting in Calgary (Ian McKillop)
• February 4 – Meeting to discuss CAIS program and needs of Ontario beef producers
• February 5 – Meeting with the Board of Directors of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to discuss BSE crisis (Mike McMorris)
• February 11 – Meeting with a Government lobbying firm to discuss strategy related to BSE.
• February 11 – Beef producers’ BSE meeting in Mildmay (Mike McMorris)
• February 13 – Meeting with Prime Minister Paul Martin (Kim Sytsma and OCA Glengarry councillor Alec MacGregor)
• February 23 – Hosted delegation from China/Hong Kong through the Canada Beef Export Federation (Ian McKillop and Kelly Daynard)
• February 24-26 – OCA Annual Convention in Toronto.
• March 4 – Ontario budget consultation meeting with Finance Minister Greg Sorbara (John Gillespie)
• March 4 – Meeting with the American Consulate General in Toronto (Mike McMorris with Wellington-Waterloo MPP Ted Arnott)
• March 10 – Farm Credit Canada’s Regional Meeting, Owen Sound (Ron Wooddisse)
• March 10 – Ontario Cull cow strategy meeting
• March 11 - National beef communications managers' meeting (Kelly Daynard
• March 15-16 – OCA Board of Directors meeting
• March 17 – Meeting with Minister Steve Peters.
• March 22-23 – Beef Roundtable meeting in Ottawa
• March 23 - Hosted delegation from Korea through the Canada Beef Export Federation.
• March 24-26 – Annual Meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
• March 27 – Political fundraiser for Minister Bob Speller
• April 6 – Wellington Cattlemen’s Association BSE information meeting
• April 8 – Meeting with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to discuss BSE
• April 15 – CCA Conference Call
• April 19 – Meeting with Gencor Foods
• April 21-22 – OCA Board of Directors meeting
• April 22 – Meeting with Minister Steve Peters
• April 26 – Regional meeting with county councillors and presidents in Sudbury (Jim Martin, Kelly Daynard, Dave Stewart
•  April 27 – Regional meeting with county councillors and presidents in Belleville (John Newman, Dave Stewart, Kelly Daynard, Dan Ferguson)
• April 30 – BSE meeting with Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friessen, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett and CCA president Stan Eby
• May 3 – Meeting of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity council; Regional meeting with county councillors and presidents in Fenlon Falls (Ron Wooddisse, Mike McMorris and Dave Stewart)
• May 4 – Keady Livestock – OFA/NFU BSE meeting (Ron Wooddisse)
• May 5 – Renfrew Barbecue (Ron Wooddisse, John Newman, Kim Sytsma)
• May 6 – Regional meeting with county councillors and presidents in Kemptville (John Newman, Kim Sytsma, Mike McMorris, Dave Stewart, Dan Ferguson and Kelly Daynard)
• May 14 – OMAF update meeting on BSE
• May 17 – Meeting with Dr. Brian Evans, CFIA (Mike McMorris)
• May 25 – Meeting with Levinoff Meats in Montreal (Ron Wooddisse and Mike McMorris)
• May 25 – Regional meeting with county presidents and councillors in Brantford (Doug Kaufman, John Gillespie, Dianne Booker, Dave Stewart, Paul Stiles and Kelly Daynard)
• June 1 - Hosted delegation from Mexico through the Canada Beef Export Federation (Ian McKillop and Kelly Daynard)
• June 2 – Grey county-hosted beef barbecue attended by AAFC Minister Bob Speller and MP Ovid Jackson (Dale Pallister, Ron Wooddisse, Stan Eby)  
• June 15 – BSE forecasting meeting at OCA.
• June 16 – BSE Appreciation/Awareness day at Queen’s Park cohosted by Minister Steve Peters, OCA, Dairy Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency.
• June 17 – OCA Board meeting
• June 18 – Beef producers’ BSE rally at OLEX (Several OCA Board and staff members
• June 22 - OCA and OMAF co-hosted a reception for a Canada Beef Export Federation delegation from Korea .
• June 24-25 – Media training session for producers doing BSE-interviews
• June 28 - Regional meeting with county councillors and presidents in Fergus (Dave Stewart, Ron Wooddisse)
• July 6 – Meeting with John Tory, leadership candidate for the provincial Progressive Conservative party. (Mike McMorris)
• July 6 – BSE/Ontario contingency planning meeting.
•  July 13 – Producer meeting in Brussels (Mike McMorris)
• July 15 – Presentation at Halton/Peel Cattlemen’s Association annual barbecue (Mike McMorris)
• July 15 – Meeting between NDP leader Jack Layton, the NDP caucus and agricultural leaders (Stan Eby and OCA Algoma Advisory Councillor Jack Tindall)

• July 16-18 – CCA Executive meeting in Calgary

• July 19-20 – OCA Board meeting in Guelph
• July 22-23 – Meeting of the Beef Roundtable in Calgary (Ron Wooddisse)
• July 27 – Meeting of the steering committee for the mature animal fund.
• July 28 – Meeting with the Ontario Bankers’ Association
•  August 11 – BSE Information meeting for producers in Meaford (Ron Wooddisse)
• August 17-21 – Semi-annual meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
• August 24 – Barbecue for Premier McGuinty and Minister Steve Peters in London (attended by several OCA representatives)
• August 30 – OCA Board meeting, Guelph
•  August 31 – September 1 – Meeting of the Beef Roundtable in Ottawa
• September 7 – BSE contingency planning meeting with OMAF
• September 9 – BSE Information meeting for producers in Wellington County
• September 17 – BSE contingency planning meeting with OMAF
• September 20-21 – OCA Board meeting, Guelph.