Comeau reappointed to milk board

BC Milk Marketing Board chair Janice Comeau has been reappointed to the role for a third term.

Comeau’s current term expires July 31, but a June 27 order in council reappointed her to a third term expiring July 31, 2027.

“We look forward to her continued leadership as she helps guide the industry forward to achieve our strategic goals, along with the board and staff,” the board said in a statement welcoming her reappointment.

Comeau’s initial appointment in 2021 was hailed as strengthening the board with “financial leadership, accountability, strategic insight and performance improvement for both entrepreneurial and public firms in growth or change.”

The intervening four years have seen the BC board work with its counterparts in the other three Western provinces towards a more co-operative relationship, especially with respect to transportation.

Dairy Innovation West, a milk concentration plant designed to reduce transportation costs and improve producer returns, has been a key initiative. The plant is set to open this month.

Kicking off Comeau’s new term, the board will complete a triennial review of its powers and duties as required by the BC Farm Industry Review Board. The review was originally scheduled to complete by August 18, but FIRB granted a request to extend the review until November 30 “to provide more time for sufficient consultation.”

A draft report is due by August 18, but the additional three months will give the board time to review feedback regarding its powers, duties and support of the sector.