MHC members may have been made aware through various media that
EC is in a membership restructuring process.

As part of that process, Equine Canada (EC) has demanded that all Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) currently affiliated with EC impose a mandatory individual membership fee on all its members.  This fee would be $5 for the 2010 membership year, increasing to $10 in 2011 with increases in the years after that as determined by EC. This fee would be payable to EC in addition to the membership fees for the PSO.  Manitoba Horse Council (MHC) is the Manitoba PSO. 

At this juncture in the continuing process of discussions with EC regarding this move and other issues linked to the restructuring process, MHC would like to provide its members with information on how they will be able to provide input into the final decision on how MHC proceeds in its relationship with EC. Also provided is an overview of the decisions already taken by the MHC Board in relation to this matter.

Over the past several months, the Provinces Division (the EC Division to which all affiliated PSOs including MHC belong) has worked to create a compromise position to many of the proposals set forth by EC, not the least of which is the issue of mandatory membership fees. 

Having considered proposals from the Provinces Division and making some concessions, the EC Board decided to move forward with the restructuring plans, including the mandatory membership fee. In light of this, the EC Board asked all PSOs to indicate whether they wished to move forward with a relationship with EC. This request was made to MHC during July, a time when the MHC Board does not have regularly scheduled meetings. 

A telephone conference call was held during which the Board instructed the MHC President to inform EC that our preferred course of action was to continue to work with EC to try to remain a part of that organization.  However, this indication of compliance was conditional upon a number of items.  The first was that no formal MHC decision had been made as MHC Board resolutions cannot be passed using electronic media.  There remain outstanding issues, in particular, the creation of a satisfactory Service Agreement that will govern the relationship between MHC and EC.

In light of this, no formal MHC Board decision has been made as to MHC’s continuing relationship with EC.

The next scheduled MHC Board meeting is October 1st, in the meantime discussions amongst the MHC Board continue as the situation develops.

Should the MHC Board opt to proceed with being part of EC under the proposed new structures and operational plans there will need to be a formal Council of Clubs meeting to change the By Laws of MHC. 

As soon as the MHC Board is fully appraised of EC’s final proposals for the relationship between PSOs and EC, the membership of MHC may expect to be called to a full Council of Clubs meeting where the whole situation can be described in detail, questions answered and discussion held.  At that meeting a two thirds majority will be necessary to change the By Laws and accommodate the requirements. MHC’s membership will therefore have a complete opportunity to give the Board final direction on this important issue.

At the present time, the EC Board is accepting MHC’s indication that it wishes to remain a part of EC and as such has taken no adverse action against MHC.

MHC will continue to work with EC to resolve issues until such time as it is able to bring forward a complete proposal to the MHC membership.