Minister MacAulay announces three appointments to the Farm Products Council of Canada

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, recently announced three appointments to the Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC).

Brian Douglas begins a four-year term as the newly appointed Chair of the FPCC, effective June 11; Yvon Cyr joins the Council for a four-year term, effective immediately; and Maryse Dubé returns for her second three-year term, which began on April 30.

These appointments were made following an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process.

Minister MacAulay expressed his gratitude to Mike Pickard for all his hard work and leadership as Interim Chairperson of the FPCC, as he returns to his role as Vice Chair.

“I am pleased to announce the appointments of Brian Douglas, Yvon Cyr and Maryse Dubé to the Farm Products Council of Canada. All three appointees bring valuable and diverse experiences to their respective roles, as well as a strong understanding of the agriculture sector. I offer them my congratulations and wish them continued success in their new roles,” MacAulay said.

The role of the FPCC is to ensure that the supply management system for poultry and eggs as well as the promotion and research activities for beef cattle work in the balanced interest of all stakeholders, from producers to consumers.

Biographies
Brian Douglas
A graduate of the University of Guelph, Douglas has enjoyed a public service career spanning over 37 years. His career has provided him with an appreciation and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Canadian producers.

From 2015 to 2016, Douglas was the clerk of the executive council and secretary to Cabinet for the Government of Prince Edward Island.

Previously, he held other senior-level positions in the Prince Edward Island government, including Deputy Minister, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and Deputy Minister, Agriculture.

Douglas spent most of his career at the Department of Agriculture where he served as director of the Agriculture Resource Division and manager of the Farm Extension Services.

Throughout his career, he also served as a member and representative for the Province of Prince Edward Island on various boards and committees related to agriculture, transportation and infrastructure at the provincial and national levels. Douglas remains active in the agricultural community as the general manager of the World Potato Congress Inc.

Yvon Cyr
Cyr has a strong background in agriculture. A poultry producer from Saint-Francois-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick, Cyr is a manager and founding shareholder with the Groupe Westco Inc., one of the largest poultry businesses in Atlantic Canada.

He is also very active in his community and the poultry industry, serving on the boards of both the Chicken Farmers of New Brunswick and the Chicken Farmers of Canada. He is also a past chair of the local chamber of commerce.

Maryse Dubé
Dubé completed her law degree at Laval University in 1996 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1997. A partner of Sylvestre & Associés since 2004, Dubé works as a lawyer in commercial and food law representing several financial institutions.

She also practices real estate law and handles collection cases. Dubé also represents small to medium-sized enterprises in security law, bankruptcy, commercial litigation and corporate law (manufacturing and agricultural components).

She is very active in her economic and social milieu and serves on numerous corporate boards and community organizations. She was President of the Bar of the Richelieu Division in 2014 and served on the executive committee of the Quebec Bar until 2015. Dubé has been a member of the Farm Products Council of Canada since April 2015.