ANALYSIS OF THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BETWEEN CREDIT UNIONS AND THE FARM CREDIT CANADA
Date
2024-12-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Since the 1990s, some credit unions have expressed concerns about Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC)—a government-owned agricultural lender— competitive behaviour, potentially risking the viability of credit unions that specialize in serving the agricultural market. Given this historical tension, the important role that credit unions play in the Canadian economy, and the limited scholarly attention to credit unions’ government relations, this research explores the evolving relationship between credit unions and FCC over the past 50 years from the vantage point of its advocacy strategy.
In conducting this research, I employed a qualitative case study method. I reviewed 50 FCC annual reports and conducted 13 interviews with officials from credit unions, the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA), and FCC. To describe the evolving relationship, I identified five distinct periods based on the prevailing nature of the credit union sector’s government relations strategy concerning FCC: 1) 1969-1992, Pro-complementarity, 2) 1993-2000, Shifting towards Pro-competition, 3) 2001-2010, Pro-Competition, 4) 2011-2021, Pro-Competition with the establishment of the Liaison Committee, and 5) 2022-onward, Competition with Partnership. In analyzing these five periods, I also explain how credit unions have engaged in policy advocacy (outside-in lobbying) and policymaking (inside co-design) to protect their business and purpose against intrusions from FCC. Policy advocacy played a predominant role during the second and third periods as FCC exhibited aggressive competitive behavior. In contrast, policymaking has been more prominent in the last two periods, as the Liaison Committee served as a policy network that promoted collaboration and fostered joint initiatives.
Description
Keywords
Credit unions, Farm Credit Canada, government relations, policy advocacy, policymaking, competition, complementarity
Citation
Degree
Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.)
Department
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Program
Public Policy