Six Provincial Equestrian Sport Organizations Resign from Equine Canada

MONTREAL, Sept. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - The provincial equestrian associations of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador have taken the unprecedented step of resigning as members of the national sport organization, Equine Canada.

The group of six organizations has been negotiating with Equine Canada for nearly two years with respect to Equine Canada's self-professed reform agenda.  The national body has been seeking to raise close to $1,000,000 in additional annual revenues by instituting new fees that the provincial organizations believe are illegal under current Equine Canada regulations. 

Of more importance, the group has urged Equine Canada to address the seriously-flawed structure of the national organization, which historically has resulted in the under-representation of provinces in Equine Canada affairs, a consistent encroachment into provincial affairs, and an inability to develop and implement an effective strategic plan for the organization.

Equine Canada brought an unceremonious end to the latest round of discussions by refusing to submit the dispute to mediation under the supervision of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.

Equine Canada's consistent refusal to discuss issues of concern to the provinces until the provinces agreed to what amounts to more than an 800% increase in revenues from provincial organization members lead to the decision of these provinces to resign.

The six organizations represent more than half of the provincial and territorial member organizations in Equine Canada, and collectively more than 30,000 individual horse enthusiasts nationwide, as well as hundreds of clubs and organizations involved in the horse industry.

For further information:

Questions to:
Representative, Group of Six
Claire Milton 902-527-0048