Good news

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The 2015 harvest is finally in and has made quite a few people happy. In fact, not only was it an early harvest, we were rewarded with several consecutive days of sunny weather. Corn and soya yields were overall exceptional, as was their quality.

However, this ideal alignment of planets and stars created a logistical nightmare for deliveries since both harvests occurred pretty much at the same time: at the farm, at the grain centres and various Maritime grain silo elevators.

Despite it all, and with the benefit of a few days of hindsight, we can now say that all is well and that life is going on as planned. We’re now waiting for the spring of 2016 sowing season to begin.

This very intense period of harvest activity kept me from taking part in the International Co-Operative Alliance’s (ICA) general assembly, which is held every other year and this year was hosted by the city of Antalya in Turkey, from November 11 to 13.

The assembly was an opportunity to revise how member organization’s pay their dues, which until recently were always based on the number of members within the said member-organization and the economic growth of the country in which it was located, but will be modulated depending on whether the number of people it represents increases more rapidly than most member organizations or their country’s GDP increases more rapidly than the global average. Furthermore, a 10% ceiling increase for all dues is currently being considered.

The assembly also presented an opportunity to update orientation notes about the cooperative principles, which are used to ensure the standardization of cooperative practices ensuing from the seven acknowledged principles.

Over the past few years, cooperative principles have gained increasing recognition around the world: they are now quoted in public policy documents, UN and International Labour Organization texts, and in many countries, were either added or became an integral part of their national statutes. So, after three years of work and taking into consideration the various points of view of the different cooperatives from around the world, the new orientation notes were finally rendered public.

However, one salient fact that stood out from this annual meeting is undoubtedly the election of Monique F. Leroux as president of the ICA.

The president of Mouvement Desjardins is taking over from Pauline Green, who was not only the first woman ever to be elected president in the 120 years of the ICA’s existence, but she was also the driving force behind the new strength that led to greater international recognition of this type of cooperative organization with the UN and with other economic forums.

Protected by its shield, ICA also established a plan of action for a decade of cooperation and promoted the (.coop) domain name, which has become the spearhead of the global cooperative movement in this new digital era.

With Monique Leroux as president of ICA, I have no doubt whatsoever that the same strength and dynamism will remain at the head of the global cooperative movement.

Elected two years ago to represent Canada as part of the ICA’ board of directors, Monique Leroux, despite her many responsibilities as CEO of Mouvement Desjardins, instigated the International Summit of Cooperatives, which is now held every other year in Quebec. And until very recently, she also presided over the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité.

In conclusion, Monique Leroux’s election as president of the international cooperative movement is excellent news, and is part of the continuing international recognition of the cooperative formula.

Not exactly a Christmas present, but pretty close!

Therefore my friends, I wish to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2016! 

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