Committees

Committees are a vital component of the success of Fertilizer Canada.

Overview

Our committees provide valuable insight and advice to the Board of Directors and staff and can help efficiently achieve the goals and vision of the association. They can also connect Fertilizer Canada staff with the attitudes and concerns of its members and serve as an important training ground for future leaders.

As a member of a Fertilizer Canada committee, you are investing your time and your company’s commitment on issues that are critical to your industry. Fertilizer Canada puts a high priority on helping you and your committee to be successful. We provide a guidebook that serves as a tool to ensure that Fertilizer Canada committees achieve maximum productivity and member participation is a rewarding and valuable experience by providing a standard approach to operating Fertilizer Canada Committees.

If you would like to join a Fertilizer Canada committee please contact:

Susan Adler
Manager, Member Services
[email protected]
514-894-8727

Click here to view the Committee webinar.

Our Committees

Board of Directors

The bylaws of the corporation set out the Board’s powers and responsibilities for the governance of the association.

Nutrients

Nutrients Committee

Fertilizer Canada’s Nutrients Committee provides strategic direction, guidance and advocacy for sustainable nutrient management under 4R Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place ®) resulting in economic, environmental, and socially responsible product use and earning the industry’s freedom to operate.

Co-Chairs: Adam Herges, Mosaic, Walt Ens, Cargill

Staff: McKenzie Smith
Director, Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs

4R Communications Working Group

The members of Fertilizer Canada’s Nutrients Committee have identified the need to develop and execute a communications plan on 4R Nutrient Stewardship with input from members. The issue of communication is at the core to the adoption of 4Rs in Canada.

The Communications working group was developed in 2019, and provides Fertilizer Canada staff guidance on internal and external communications, as it relates to the Stewardship pillar. The Communications Working Group is not responsible for policy-setting and will provide its recommendations to the Nutrients Committee for implementation.

Chair: Sandra Carpenter, Yara

Staff: Brittany Thibaudeau
Communications Specialist

Fertilizer Use Survey Working Group

Fertilizer Canada’s Nutrients Committee agreed to establish a Fertilizer Use Survey Working Group to review and revise the current Fertilizer Use Survey project. The Fertilizer Use Survey was established in 2015 and works to survey growers across Canada on their fertilizer practices and their knowledge/recognition of 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework. This working group works to develop the survey based on identified desired outcomes and ensures that it is designed to properly assess 4R Nutrient Stewardship implementation across Canada. This Working Group is key in helping identify current gaps and barriers to the implementation of 4R best management practices and 4R programming.

Chair: N/A

Staff: Kelsey Hill
Manager, Nutrient Stewardship

Safety & Security

Safety & Security Committee

Fertilizer Canada’s Fertilizer Safety and Security Council (FSSC) Steering Committee provides strategic direction, guidance and advocacy for the safe and secure manufacturing, handling, storage, transportation and application of commercial fertilizers, thereby protecting employees, transportation workers, first responders, farmers and the Canadian public from risk due to accidental release, environmental emergency, or criminal misuse of fertilizer products.

Chairs: Tom Hutcheson, Koch
Vice-Chair: Jim Jenkins, Nutrien

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Anhydrous Ammonia Working Group

Fertilizer Canada’s Ammonia Working Group is established under the mandate and direction of the Fertilizer Safety and Security Council (FSSC) Steering Committee. The working group works to develop and deliver safety, security and training programs related to ammonia and ammonia-based fertilizer products that align with the goals set by the FSSC Steering Committee and Fertilizer Canada.

The Ammonia Working Group will conduct its work under the auspices of the safe and secure manufacturing, handling, storage, transportation and application of commercial fertilizers, thereby protecting employees, transportation workers, first responders, farmers and the Canadian public from risk due to accidental release, environmental emergency, or criminal misuse of fertilizer products.

Co-Chairs: Tom Hutcheson, Koch
Glenn Heather, CF Industries

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Ammonium Nitrate Working Group

Fertilizer Canada’s Ammonium Nitrate Working Group is established under the mandate and direction of the Fertilizer Safety and Security Council (FSSC) Steering Committee. The Working Group works to develop and deliver safety, security and training programs related to ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer products that align with the goals set by the FSSC Steering Committee and Fertilizer Canada.

The Ammonium Nitrate Working Group will conduct its work under the auspices of the safe and secure manufacturing, handling, storage, transportation and application of commercial fertilizers thereby protecting employees, transportation workers, first responders, farmers and the Canadian public from risk due to accidental release, environmental emergency, or criminal misuse of fertilizer products.

Chair: Gary Vogen, Yara

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Liquid Storage Assessment Working Group

Fertilizer Canada’s Liquid Storage Assessment Working Group (shorthand, as Liquid Working Group) is established under the mandate and direction of the Fertilizer Safety and Security Council (FSSC) Steering Committee. The Working Group will provide expertise for the development, drafting, and implementation of a Liquid Code of Practice, or alternative approach based on the liquid storage assessment. This is a key initiative that aligns with the goals set by the FSSC Steering Committee and Fertilizer Canada.

The Liquid Working Group will conduct its work under the auspices of best practices for storage / handling / blending facilities as well as end-user customers (growers). This will demonstrate proactive self-regulation and environmental stewardship to the Canadian public. Additionally, it supports the protection of employees, transportation workers, first responders, farmers and the Canadian public from risk due to accidental release, environmental emergency, or criminal misuse of fertilizer products.

Chair: Mike Osudar, Koch Fertilizer ULC

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy &Industry Standards

Bin Storage Working Group

The Bin Storage Working Group has been formed to address concerns with bin cliff management for dry fertilizer storage, at retail and on farm. The Bin Storage Working Group will conduct its work based on best practices for dry fertilizer bin storage facilities as well as end-user customers (growers) with bin storage. This working group will provide industry expertise to guide a risk assessment on cliffing management in dry fertilizer storage. Based on the outcomes of the risk assessment, the working group will advise on the development and delivery of any risk management tools.

Chair/Vice Chair: TBD

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy &Industry Standards

Business Competitiveness

Business Competitiveness

Fertilizer Canada’s Business Competitiveness Committee provides guidance on issues important to members, both federally and provincially, including; job creation, economic stability, investment opportunities, trade and regulation, taxation and royalties as it relates to the industry’s social license to operate and their ability to compete in the global fertilizer marketplace. This committee will not duplicate the efforts of the Environment, Transportation and Products Committee.

Chair: Tyler Hopson, Mosaic

Staff: Catherine King
Vice President, Public Affairs

Environment

Environment Committee

Fertilizer Canada’s Environment Committee provides strategic direction, guidance and advocacy to advance the industry’s participation in regulatory initiatives related to the environment which impact the manufacturing and distribution of fertilizer products.

Co-Chairs: Ryan Stewart, CF Industries,
Jessica Theriault, Mosaic

Staff: McKenzie Smith
Director, Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs

Nitrogen Working Group

AB, MB – The Nitrogen Air Issues WG is a sub-group of the Environment Committee and is comprised of nitrogen-based fertilizer manufacturers and distributers. It serves primarily to advance the industry’s participation in the regulatory development process, as it relates to greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant regulatory issues in the manufacturing and distribution of nitrogen-based fertilizer products.

Chair: N/A

Staff: McKenzie Smith
Director, Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs

Potash Working Group

SK, MB – The Potash Boiler Technical WG is a sub-group of the Potash Air Issues WG and is comprised of engineers, technicians, operators, mechanics or other individuals familiar with boilers used for potash-based fertilizer manufacture and distribution. It serves primarily to support the industry’s participation in the regulatory development process, as it relates to greenhouse gas (GHG) regulatory issues in the manufacture of potash-based fertilizer products, through technical knowledge of potash boilers.

Chair: N/A

Staff: McKenzie Smith
Director, Stewardship & Regulaotry affairs

Urban

Urban Committee

To advance the interests of member companies of CropLife Canada and of Fertilizer Canada as these relate to pest control products and fertilizers used in urban/non-agricultural settings.

Co-Chairs: Karen Stephenson, Scotts
Suzanne Beattie, Premier Tech

Staff: Catherine King
Vice President, Public Affairs

Products

Products Committee

Fertilizer Canada’s Products Committee aims to promote the environmental and economic sustainability of the fertilizer products sector by promoting the safe and efficacious use of fertilizer and supplement products, and influencing the direction of regulations to encourage innovation and growth in the industry. Through the Products Committee, member companies have a means to address shared issues related to regulation and registration of fertilizers and supplements under the purview of the Fertilizers Regulations. The Products Committee represents the interests of the specialty fertilizers market, including supplement products, and addresses regulatory challenges through use of issue-specific working groups. Fertilizer Canada member companies that are suppliers and/or retailers of specialty fertilizer products / supplements should be actively engaged in the Products Committee.

Chair: Suzanne Beattie, Premier Tech
Vice-Chair: Jenna Hurtt, Koch

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Cannabis Working Group

Fertilizer Canada’s Cannabis Working Group has a focus on maintaining industry social license for fertilizer and supplement products used in cannabis production. This includes a focus on mitigating risks of input contamination, industry growth, and influencing the direction of regulatory changes to encourage innovation and growth in the industry.

Chair: Karen Stephenson, Scotts

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Nitrogen Stabilizers Working Group

The Nitrogen Stabilizers Working Group was established in 2017, with a mandate to advocate for nitrification and urease inhibitor products (often collectively referred to as nitrogen stabilizers) in Canada.

Chair: Jennifer Blundon, Koch

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Biostimulants Working Group

Chair:

Staff: Nadine Frost
Director, Policy & Industry Standards

Transportation

Transportation Committee

Fertilizer Canada’s Transportation Committee identifies and responds to incidents and regulatory threats that have the potential to impact members’ ability to transport fertilizer products safely, efficiently, and at a reasonable cost. The Transportation Committee focuses its resources on the primary modes of getting fertilizer products to domestic and export markets, including rail and trucking. The Committee also addresses issues with labour shortages or disruptions that impact the fertilizer transportation supply chain.

The Transportation Committee identifies common issues across membership and works to establish consensus positions to advocate on behalf of the fertilizer industry. The Committee works in partnership with other Fertilizer Canada issue committees, such as the Fertilizer Safety and Security Committee, to leverage areas of common interest such as training and outreach on fertilizer safety.

Chair: Christine Gillespie, Nutrien
Vice-Chair: Suzanne Pleice, K+S Potash Canada

Staff: Daniel Kelter
Sr. Manager, Government Relations

Public Affairs

Public Affairs

Co-Chairs: Cam Baker, Nutrien, Darcie Park, CF Industries

Staff: Catherine King
Vice President, Public Affairs

Listed below are the types of committees employed by Fertilizer Canada, in pursuit of the achievement of the Strategic Framework.

Board of Directors

The bylaws of the corporation set out the Board’s powers and responsibilities for the governance of the association.

Executive Committee

This committee is responsible to the Board. It has powers to ensure the ongoing administration of the association.

Committees of the Board

In the case of board committees, the board establishes them, sets out their objectives, monitors their progress, and holds them accountable. Currently, the Audit Planning and Budget and External Affairs committees are functioning board committees

Issue Committees

These committees have been mandated by the Board to function as standing committees. Each Issue Committee is responsible for matters related to specific Pillars of Success in the Fertilizer Canada Strategic Framework. The Nutrients Committee, Fertilizer Safety & Security, and Transportation committees are examples of issue committees.

Working Groups

These Working Groups are appointed by the Issue Committees and are charged with specific components of the Issue Committee mandates. Working groups are typically time limited, have limited scope and report directly to the established Issue Committee.

Task Force

A task force may take on a specific task when it is deemed too complex/onerous/regionally specific to be undertaken by a Working Group.

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Canada must choose 4R Nutrient Stewardship to meet Canada’s emission reduction targets