The Parkland, Beeland, and Carrot River Co-ops are once again looking to amalgamate (File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Merger proposal

Member discussions wrap up as local Co-ops look to merge

Mar 23, 2024 | 8:00 AM

The merger vote between three local Co-ops is now less than a month away.

Parkland, Beeland, and Carrot River Co-ops are looking to amalgamate, and member information drop-in sessions were held Mar. 18-21 in Tisdale, Bjorkdale, Porcupine Plain, Hudson Bay, Arborfield, and Carrot River.

General Manager Todd Svenson told northeastNOW the meetings went quite well.

“We met with some members that had some questions and wanted some clarification, we met with some members that had their minds made up one way or the other and talked with them,” said Svenson. The leadership outlined the plans for the merger, what they believe is the best path forward for the Co-op, and Svenson said he hopes that all questions were answered.

The three organizations sought to merge, but that merger was voted down in 2022. Svenson said this merger wouldn’t be a whole lot different this time around.

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“After the vote was a no, we heard a lot of members, myself, the board, team members at the tills, heard a lot of members that believed that it had happened and that it actually had gone through,” explained Svenson. He said they wanted to know if people truly wanted a merger and just didn’t come out to vote, and thought it would be best to pursue an amalgamation.

There is one significant difference in this merger proposal. In the last vote, all three Co-ops had to agree on a merger for it to proceed. This time around, if two Co-ops vote for a merger and one votes against, the two that voted in favour would proceed with the merger together.

Svenson said should a merger proceed, there wouldn’t be a huge difference to front-facing customers.

“All the locations stay the same, all of the staff stay the same,” said Svenson. He added that they’re looking more toward future opportunities.

“We can gain some efficiencies, have a little better buying power so hopefully profitability is increased, and maybe even some cheaper prices to our consumers,” Svenson said.

The three Co-ops have been working together for several years, sharing services like accounting, human resources, payroll, I.T., marketing, health and safety, and general manager.

“This (merger) just seems like the next step forward to continue to work together and become more efficient.”

Votes will be held at the Tisdale Civic Centre Auditorium Apr. 9, Carrot River Curling Rink Apr. 10, and Hudson Bay Brooks Hall and Porcupine Plain Community Hall Apr. 11, with all starting at 6:30 p.m.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK