Chicken-industry people in Northern Ontario were miffed when
the trio organizing consultations on industry growth policies ignored them.
That changed after a group travelled to Guelph where one of
the consultation meetings was held. The Northerners outnumbered the locals
eight to three, and so the trio scheduled a meeting in the North.
Max Burt and seven other chicken
farmers “made it very plain about their dissatisfaction with the ignoring of
half the province.,” writes Glenn Black on his blog,
Canadiansmallflockers.blotspot.com .
“Shortly after that, a 17th consultation
meeting was scheduled for Northern Ontario,” he writes.
The trio is the Chicken Farmers of
Ontario Marketing Board, the Association of Ontario Chicken Processors and the
Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. Notably absent is the Ontario
Independent Chicken Processors Association which has lobbied long and hard for
access to more chicken so its membership can exploit opportunities in niche
markets.
“The live meeting was held in Gore
Bay with five participants with Brian Boyle, a former facilitator with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Murray Opsteen , a
director of the chicken board and Brad Stephenson offering technical support,”
writes Black.
In addition, there were internet-based
satellite conferences tied in for six people at Bruce Mines, 10 at Dryden, six
at Geraldton, six at Rainey River, 10 at Temiskaming, nine at Verner-Sudbury and
some more at Thunder Bay “for a grand total of more than 55 participants,”
Black writes.
“Some of the points made by
Northern Ontario participants:
• Supply Management is ineffective.
• Major changes in the quota system and small flocker
exemptions are needed; or removal of the quota system altogether.
• We need safe, locally produced, affordable chicken
that responds to the local needs and customers
• Chicken factories are the source of the majority of
disease outbreaks and resistant bacteria due to dysfunctional farming practices
• First Nations need an opportunity to participate
• Affordable chicken is a major issue, and getting worse
every day
Abattoirs that are reasonably
proximate to chicken farmers are needed. Portable abattoirs are one
possible solution.”
The group presented an outline of
what they want:
• 1. Evolve the allocation systems of both farmers and
processors to improve the flexibility and responsiveness in capitalizing on
growth opportunities in the chicken marketplace.
•
• Create value by serving the needs of growing and
emerging markets.
• Encourage innovation, new business-building ideas.
• Serve the needs of existing markets, taking into
consideration their size, importance, and historical investment.
• Develop a system that is predictable and stable that
aligns the interests of key stakeholders in the chicken industry
Encourage quality, efficiency, and
value creation.”
Burt and Black have both been
spurned in the past when they asked for special treatment for small-flock
owners and for Northern Ontario.
