Recap of the first Board of Directors’ meeting for 2022
Yesterday, the first of three meetings per year for members of the “Well Made Here” organization’s board of directors took place by videoconference. On the agenda were a report on activities for the first half of the year, the financial forecast for the end of the year and the report of the manufacturers’ committee.
The President and CEO reiterated the unprecedented efforts that were recently undertaken surrounding the Canada Day theme, punctuated by advertorials in both languages and virtual publications demonstrating the relevance of the program in this context of strained supply chains and growing public awareness of the traceability and sustainability of the products they consume.
Richard Darveau concluded his presentation with three tactical objectives to be met by the end of the year:
- Recruit 20 new manufacturers and another buying group,
- Engage all existing participants,
- Develop at least one partnership with the Government of Canada.
Breaking even
Nevertheless, the budget estimates drew the attention of the directors.
“Well Made Here” executives presented a pro forma deficit of $35,000, which was not approved by the board. Management was asked to go back to the drawing board to recalculate and submit a balanced budget.
It should be noted that the organization ended 2021 with a shortfall of $14,000. Therefore, two deficits in a row are not something that would be appreciated by the Board.
Made in Canada standards under the microscope
Finally, the directors were informed by their colleague, Paul Faulkner, that the manufacturers’ committee would be closely monitoring the changes under consideration by the Competition Bureau of Canada regarding the “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” claims. All this analysis of product origin seems to be limited to foodstuffs, but the committee will keep an eye on the situation for the entire hardware community.
It bears reminding that the governing body of “Well Made Here”, its board of directors, currently comprises eleven seats. The following ten organisations were represented by a member of their senior executive during the August 31, 2002 meeting: the Association des consommateurs pour la qualité dans la construction (Marc-André Harnois, General Manager), the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l’habitation du Québec (David Dinelle, Director, Communications and Public Affairs), the Association québécoise de la quincaillerie et des matériaux de construction (Me Jean-Maxim Lebrun, Lawyer and Associate, Dunton Rainville), Castle Building Centres Group (Robert Legault, Director, Business Development), the Patrick Morin Group (Jean-Simon Boucher, Director of Finance), Sexton Group (Eric Palmer, Vice-President and General Manager), Home Hardware Stores (Mario Durocher, Director, Retail Operations) and Lowe’s Canada (Jean-Sébastien Lamoureux, Senior Vice-President – RONA Affiliated Retailers, Wholesale and Public Affairs). The manufacturers were represented by Paul Faulkner of Dural, who also serves as Treasurer, while the retailers were represented by Nicolas Couture of Couture TIMBER MART. Absent yesterday were AD Canada (formerly TORBSA).