NEW GENERATION CO-OPERATIVES ACT PROCLAIMED

Released on January 26, 2000

The first page of an exciting new chapter in the history of Saskatchewan's co-

operative movement was written today with proclamation of the New Generation Co-

operatives Act.



New generation co-operatives provide Saskatchewan agricultural producers with a

new structure for creating opportunities in processing, for both domestic and

export markets. The co-ops are financed primarily through the sale of shares

to members, who deliver predetermined amounts of product to their co-operatives

for processing. These co-ops also allow non-producer investment in their

enterprises.



"Saskatchewan producers have taken it upon themselves to diversify and new

generation co-ops give them a framework to take their products to another value-

added level," Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon

said. "We're also opening the doors for them to form partnerships with non-

producers to explore exciting new processing opportunities in rural

Saskatchewan."



MacKinnon noted producers in emerging specialty markets such as bison, pasta,

wild boar, berries, herbs and spices have expressed interest in forming new

generation co-operatives.



Today is also the first day of a major, two-day new generation co-operatives

conference in Saskatoon. "Building the New Saskatchewan" is bringing together

producers and co-operative leaders to focus on how they can develop, own and

operate value-added businesses using this new co-operative structure.



"Co-operatives have played a key role in the development of this province and

this is especially true in rural Saskatchewan," Justice Minister Chris Axworthy

said. "The legislation being proclaimed today supports innovation for our

strong co-operative movement."



Conference sponsors include Saskatchewan Economic & Co-operative Development,

Farm Credit Corporation, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Saskatchewan Agriculture and

Food, Canadian Co-operative Association, the Centre for the Study of Co-

operatives and the Canadian Wheat Board.



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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691