The Complaint & The Solution

The governments have declared time & again that they are 100% committed to their broken, ineffective, and dangerous Supply Management System.  Here is a complaint about one aspect of this crazy Supply Management System, and a proposed solution for all of the current problems.

We have a number of problems with our Supply Management System in Canada for food production of eggs, chickens, turkeys, and dairy.  This Blog, through the 387 postings and in-depth investigations over the last 2.3 years have repeatedly shown the flaws in this SM system, and some proposed solutions.

The government is responsible for ensuring that this system adequately serves Canadians.

The government is responsible, through its legislation and regulations, are responsible for clearly and comprehensively describing what is expected, ensure adequate resources are available to achieve those expectations, and a framework for achieving those goals in an effective manner.

Poor legislation causes confusion and misinterpretation of what can and should be done.  The latest case in point is the mis-use of antimicrobials, primarily in CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) farms operated under the SM system.

Small Flockers believe the government has responsibility to:

1. Ensure there are clear expectations (what must be done, what is prohibited)
2. Ensure there are adequate resources (eg. responsibility, authority, money, personnel, equipment, tools, infrastructure, training, policies, procedures, etc.) to achieve those expectations.
3. Ensure that the system (and the people in it) are adequately aware of the expectations, the actual results achieved, and the methods used.
4. Ensure that where there is a gap (ie. non-compliance or ineffectiveness) between the expectations and the actual outcomes, that gap is closed and eliminated in a timely and effective manner so that this particular gap and all similar gaps never occur again.

Dr. Joseph Juran (1904-2008), Professor,
Consultant, & Author.  Dr. Juran was a
Quality Assurance Guru, one of the
leaders of the World-wide Quality
Revolution.

Four simple rules, based on Dr. Joseph Juran's teachings on Quality Assurance.  Dr. Juran is one of my personal heros.

It's unfortunate that the government hasn't seen the light so far.

Since the SM System has run amok for way too long, they will need remedial training and guidance on what those 4 simple rules mean.  We have to spell it out for them in a little more detail.  That is why we proposed 10 clarifications for the SM legislation and regulations in Canada (see Superbugs: CAFO-Induced Infections, and a 10-step solution 

Here is our letter of complaint to the Federal Government, Ontario Government, and the Chicken Supply Management System.  The same goes for all the other Provinces, Territories, and SM commodities, but for now we choose to focus our efforts at the epicenter of need.

Email:   Small Flocker's Complaint & Proposed Solution

Duties of Chicken Farmers of Canada

The 2001 Federal-Provincial Agreement on Chicken makes for interesting reading.  I'll wait patiently while you finish your laughing.

It was signed by 33 different parties, the Federal Government (ie. Dept. Agriculture & Agri-Foods), each Provincial Minister (eg. OMAF in Ontario), the Provincial Supervisory Boards (eg. FPMC in Ontario), the Provincial Commodity Boards (eg. CFO in Ontario), and Chicken Farmers of Canada.

They agreed that the Supply Management System for Chicken would be orderly; co-ordinated; flexible; market responsive; appropriate safeguards; consistent; predictable; stable; have objectives; optimize sustainable economic activity in the chicken industry; pursue opportunities in both domestic and international markets; enhance competitiveness and efficiency in the chicken industry; and work in the balanced interest of producers, industry stakeholders and consumers.

In addition, CFC has the duty to fully co-operate and inform provincial Supervisory Boards and Commodity Boards; review CFC's policies, procedures, orders, rules, and methods annually; and record, monitor, audit, and enforce its quota allocations, procedures, and the Federal-Provincial Agreement on Chicken.

That's quite a laundry list of goals, duties, and expectations.  So far so good.  All of the above seems to be on the right track, reasonable, and worthy.

So, how has CFC made out on achieving all of these expectations?  CFC and its other signatories have had 12 years to get their act together, build and perfect their systems, co-ordinate their actions, gain consensus, and prove their value to Canada and Canadians.

You be the judge.

Operators are standing by to receive your Comments.

There is a new poll in the side margin on CFC's performance. Please vote!