Background

The Livestock Financial Protection Board, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is established under the Farm Products Payments Act (FPPA). It is a trust agency responsible for administering the fund for livestock sellers (mandatory check-off paid by producers on the sale of livestock).

Section 4(1) of the FPPA sets out the functions of the board as follows:

  1. to administer its fund;
  2. to investigate all claims made to it under this act and to determine the extent of their validity;
  3. to grant or refuse the payment of claims or any part thereof and determine the amounts and manner of payment;
  4. to recover any money to which it is entitled under this Act by suit in a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise; and,
  5. to carry out the functions, and exercise the powers, prescribed by regulation.

Fund administration by the Boards is one component under the Ontario Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program established in 1982 to protect producers and other sellers of beef cattle in the event of defaults on payment by licensed buyers. The programs consist of a licensing and fund administration component. The legislative authority for the licensing component of the livestock program is set out in the Livestock and Livestock Products Act.

Membership

The Minister appoints not fewer than five members and may designate one of the members as chair and another as vice-chair. O. Reg. 560/93 under the FPPA provides that the board shall consist of one member representing each of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Canadian Meat Council, and the Ontario Livestock Auction Markets Association. The balance of the members shall consist of such members as the minister considers advisable. The board traditionally consisted of eight members.

For a list of current members please refer to the Public Appointment Secretariat's (PAS) website.

Term

Board members are appointed for a term of up to 3 years and are eligible for reappointment.

Meetings

 The board meets two or three times a year, depending on the number of claims.

Reports

The government recently announced a number of initiatives supporting the Premier's commitment to Open Government by promoting greater transparency in classified agencies. Beginning April 1, 2015, specific governance documents and expense information for classified agencies must be posted on the classified agency or ministry.