AMC ConnectionAgricultural Manufacturers of CanadaAMC NEWS
![]() Please feel free to send April a note welcoming her to our industry or better yet invite her to your office so she can better understand your business needs. April can be reached at april@a-m-c.ca or by phone: 306.522.2710 ext. 224. To learn more, visit our website at www.a-m-c.ca. As part of our recently approved strategic plan, AMC is engaging in advocacy at the federal and select provincial levels.
REMINDER: AMC is leading a delegation of members to meet with key federal decision makers in Ottawa April 20 and 21. To inform and support our efforts, please ensure you provide us your responses by April 8 to the 6 questions we requested on March 16. If you have not done so, please provide your responses to AMC president, Leah Olson by April 8: leah@a-m-c.ca Upcoming Provincial Elections and Budgets:
NEW AMC MEMBERS
Innovation Saskatchewan’s mission is to be an innovation catalyst serving the needs of individuals, companies and institutions as well as to enhance the role and benefits of innovation in Saskatchewan through developing an environment that encourages and rewards innovation, enhancing the ability of the private sector to innovate and implement innovations, leading the commercialization of new, high value-added products and improved competitiveness, and fostering coordinated public sector research, development and technology transfer targeted at economic growth for the Province of Saskatchewan.
INDUSTRY NEWS
The federal government has made a number of pronouncements related to trade and diplomatic engagement with Russia where some AMC members are doing or hope to do business. At the end of the day, the federal government is committed to putting pressure on Putin but not isolating itself from the international community's actions. We have been working with the federal government on this and appreciate specific examples you can provide regarding business challenges related to trade with Russia. Please send them to AMC's president, Leah Olson at leah@a-m-c.ca
The federal minister of foreign affairs, Honourable Stephane Dion, recently announced additional sanctions to ten entities and two individuals in addition to freezing the assets of others. The government's stated goal is to hold the Putin government to account and demonstrate an explicit condemnation of Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea. It is squarely a pressure tactic targeted at the Putin government that we are being pulled into. At the same time, however, the government has announced its intention to engage with Russia at the diplomatic level. It is the view of the government that engaging with Russia on the one hand and demonstrating a firm resolve on sanctions on the other strengthens Canada's ability to hold them to account. The government has stated its intention to remain at the diplomatic table with a view to getting its desired outcomes. The Canadian view was reinforced by the U. S. (Kerry) recently: "... President Obama believes, and I believe, that engagement is important. You don't lose anything by asking the right questions, having the right conversation and exploring what the possibilities might be." We will provide updates to members as things evolve. The Discovery Channel will be airing a segment of How It's Made about tillage machines, featuring Salford Group Inc.
The segment Tillage Machines will be airing on the Discovery Channel in Canada on Monday, April 4th at 8:00pm ET. Please check www.discovery.ca and your local listings for any viewing changes.
The segment will also be airing on the Science Channel in the USA on Thursday, May 5th at 9:00pm ET. Please check http://www.sciencechannel.com/schedule/ for any viewing changes.
AMC President, Leah Olson, attended the Canada Standards Association’s technical committee meeting on agriculture machinery April 30 and 31 in Toronto. The meeting brought together key manufacturers, regulators and farmers to discuss, analyze and develop CSA standards. The committee also evaluated and addressed harmonization with ISO and ASABE standards. CSA is seeking increased engagement from the shortline industry. If you are interested in knowing more about how the committee operates or the issues considered, please contact Ibrahim Saleh, Director of Product Integrity at MacDon: 204.831.4334
If you want to join the committee, please contact Priya Malik at: Priya.malik@csagroup.org AMC wants to hear your good news, and share it with members! Please forward your media releases and any other announcements to admin@a-m-c.ca so that they can be put in our next newsletter.
COMING EVENTS
Western Economic Diversification (WD) is about to launch the third intake of applications for the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative and will be accepting online applications from March 14, 2016 to April 13, 2016.
Local information sessions will be held at the following:
We encourage you to visit our website for detailed program parameters at www.wd-deo.gc.ca. Should you have questions that are not addressed in the Frequently Asked Questions, or if you are interested in including the WINN ad-matt in your membership newsletter or including a button linking to WD’s WINN website on your website to assist in promoting the WINN initiative, you may contact WD-Saskatchewan at 306-975-4373 or wd.sk-sk.deo@canada.ca.
June 13: AMC Golf Tournament - June 13 at the Murray Golf Course in Regina, SK. Registration opens April 13. Fees will be $400 for a team of 4 or $150/individual golfer.
November 30 - December 2 - AMC Annual Convention at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in Calgary, AB. Please take a moment to vote in our Connection Poll, located above on the right, on what topics you would like to see covered in the speakers sessions at the 46th Annual Convention and Trade Show taking place in Calgary, AB this year. If you have any other topic suggestions, please email them to us at admin@a-m-c.ca.
AMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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