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Brian Douglas, Chairman (2018–2022)
A graduate of the University of Guelph, Mr. Douglas has enjoyed a public service career spanning over 37 years. His career has provided him with an appreciation and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Canadian producers. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Douglas was the Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet for the Government of Prince Edward Island. Previously, he held other senior-level positions in the Prince Edward Island government, including Deputy Minister, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and Deputy Minister, Agriculture.
Mr. Douglas spent most of his career at the Department of Agriculture where he served as Director of the Agriculture Resource Division and Manager of the Farm Extension Services. Throughout his career, he also served as a member and representative for the Province of Prince Edward Island on various boards and committees related to agriculture, transportation and infrastructure at the provincial and national levels. Mr. Douglas remains active in the agricultural community as the General Manager of the World Potato Congress Inc.
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Ron Bonnett, Vice-Chairman (2019–2022)
Ron Bonnett has had a long and varied career in agriculture. He was the President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). In the mid-1980s, Ron became the founding president of the Algoma Federation of Agriculture, where he helped combat high interest rates. He also was engaged in municipal politics during this time. He served as councillor and reeve of the Township of Plummer where he advocated for rural economic development, inter-municipal cooperation and a strong agriculture sector. In 1997, Ron sat on the provincial board of directors for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and OFA executive. He was the OFA Vice-President for two years, and also served as the OFA President for four years. During his time with OFA, Ron sat on the CFA National Council and CFA executive, before becoming 2nd Vice-President in February 2007.
As an advocate of agriculture at the international level, Ron sat on the Board of Directors for the World Farmers’ Organization as the North American representative and played a lead role in the development of the organization, acting as interim President. In addition to his work at CFA, he was also the President of Beef Improvement Ontario and planning committee chair for Ontario’s Agricultural Management Institute. In 1975, Ron and his wife, Cathy, bought a dairy farm in Bruce Mines, located in Northern Ontario, which they operated until 1995. Since 1995, they have operated a cow/calf farm.
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Maryse Dubé, Member (2015–2021)
Maryse Dubé received a Bachelor of Law from Laval University in 1996 and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1997. She has been a partner with the firm since 2004. She works at Sylvestre & Associés as a commercial lawyer specialized in agri-food law, representing a number of agricultural producers during business transfers and acquisitions, as well as providing advice to financial institutions. She represents small and medium‑sized businesses in the fields of securities law, bankruptcy law, commercial litigation and corporate law (manufacturing and agricultural sectors). Very active in her social and economic milieu, she has often played the role of honorary chair and has served on a number of corporate and community boards. She has also spoken at various conferences and still teaches securities law at the Quebec Bar, in the Montreal sector.
She sat on the Board of Directors of the Association des avocats et avocates de province, then served as President of the Richelieu Section in 2014. Until May 2016, she served on the Executive Committee of the Quebec Bar. She actively took part in the General Council’s work, which led to new governance for the Quebec Bar, and was elected by acclamation to the Board of Directors as the representative for the Richelieu, Longueil and Athabasca sections.She was appointed by the Privy Council of Canada to a three‑year term on the Farm Products Council of Canada in April 2015. In May 2018, she was reappointed to another three‑year term. She is known for her dynamic personality and her passion for singing with her band Rock in Time, whose members come from the Maskoutain business community and volunteer their time to perform benefit shows for charities in the Maskoutain region.
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Yvon Cyr, Member (2018–2022)
Mr. Cyr has a strong background in agriculture. A poultry producer from Saint-Francois-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick, Mr. Cyr is a manager and founding shareholder with the Groupe Westco Inc., one of the largest poultry businesses in Atlantic Canada. He is also very active in his community and the poultry industry, where he served on the boards of both the Chicken Farmers of New Brunswick and the Chicken Farmers of Canada. He is also a past chair of the local chamber of commerce.
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