Vampire Chicken: Affordable Chicken Vs. Government's Priorities

This Blog has dedicated itself to helping solve purpose and poverty through more affordable chicken and eggs.  What do the people of the world (and Canadians) tell us about these proposed priorities?

The World Values Survey (www.worldvaluessurvey.org) is:

"... a global network of social scientists studying changing values and their impact on social and political life, led by an international team of scholars, with the WVS association and secretariat headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

The survey, which started in 1981, seeks to use the most
rigorous, high-quality research designs in each country. The WVS consists of nationally representative surveys conducted in almost 100 countries which contain almost 90 percent of the world’s population, using a common questionnaire. The WVS is the largest non-commercial, cross-national, time series investigation of human beliefs and values ever executed, currently including interviews with almost 400,000 respondents. Moreover the WVS is the only academic study covering the full range of global variations, from very poor to very rich countries, in all of the world’s major cultural zones."

We have looked at a number of the questions and answers published in that database in hopes of confirming our proposed priorities.

Here are the findings from the World Values Survey:

1. The most serious problem in the world is people living in poverty and need.  Canada agrees with the rest of the world, but feels the magnitude of this same issue somewhat less (likely due to the relative affluence of Canadians, as compared to other countries).


2. When asked for the most serious problem in their own country, every country again voted people living in poverty and need as the #1 biggest problem, and also the #2 biggest problem.  Again, Canada agreed with the rest of the world.


3. When asked about their opinion on competition (good vs. harmful), all of the world agreed that competition is good, to varying degrees.  The people of Jordan were the most convinced that competition was good (a weighted score of 85% support).  Canada ranked in 26th, with 84.5% of Jordan's score (ie. a weighted score of 71.85%), but strongly supporting competition.

So how does all of this apply to Small Flockers and Canada's Supply Management system for chicken and eggs?

Exactly how does the Chicken Supply Management System support and use competition?  Supply Management is the opposite to competition, the anti-thesis.  There is no competition whatsoever under Supply Management; neither within any province, nor between suppliers from other provinces, nor from suppliers outside of Canada.  Supply Management is a monopoly enjoyed by a chosen few millionaires, at the detriment of the vast majority of Canadians.  Supply Management gives unfair profits and privileges to just 0.01% of Canada's population, that must be paid by all consumers of chicken.

Exactly where and how does Canada's Supply Management system support or solve the social ill of people living in poverty and need?

The Chicken Mafia steals money from Canadians by charging 50% to 300% more for chicken than what the rest of the world pays on a $/kg. basis.  Therefore, Canada's Chicken Mafia makes the poverty and need worse.  The Chicken Mafia isn't making the situation better.

Chicken is (and should be) the cheapest meat, but chicken should be cheaper than what the Chicken Mafia allows.  Canada should have the goal of all grocery stores selling chicken that can be afforded by ALL Canadians.

If people can't afford chicken, they are forced to be vegetarians.

Health Canada reports that on average, 7.6% of Canadians cannot afford the food they need to feed themselves.  In some communities and social strata, it is as high as 75%.  I believe that is what the World Values Survey was discussing.

True, the chicken and egg millionaires give a few chickens and eggs to Canadian food banks each year.  Remember that this tiny bit of gifting is funded and derived from the greedy gouging and unfair conditions that the Chicken Mafia benefit from every day.

Giving back a tiny portion of those ill got gains is an insult, an attempt to bribe us with our own money.

Consider bank robbers who throw a handful of loose change into the air as they exit the bank with their huge bag of loot.  They throw those coins at the crowd so as to more easily escape in the crowd, by creating a riot and confusion as the starving masses try to grasp some of the loose coinage thrown at them.  Is that true charity and assistance by the bank robbers, or a ploy?  Is that the kind of charity we should applaud?  Those bank robbers are only giving away a tiny fraction of what they just stole.

Obviously lower cost chicken would help alleviate poverty and need.  Note the data this Blog previously presented, where somebody earning Minimum Wage in Ontario has seen the price of chicken become 37% less affordable during the 10 year period of  1995 - 2005 (see Blog Posting Unaffordable Chicken in Ontario).  Note that we found similar results for those living at the poverty line (see LICO Chicken), and the average Ontario family).

Canada's Chicken Supply Management System
is a Vampire, sucking on the blood of
all Canadians.  When will the governments
muzzle the Vampire Chicken they helped create?
Image Source

Obviously, under the reign of the Chicken Mafia, we are going in the wrong direction.

Canada is a democratic country, and the Canadian people clearly told our governments and the world that people living in poverty and need is the #1 and #2 problem in both the world and Canada.

Should Canada's governments listen to the Canadian people, or listen to the millionaire Chicken Mafia and their lobbyists?

The time will soon be here when the Canadian governments will need to listen.

For example, there is a reason the PC's no longer run the government of Alberta, after a reign of more than 40 years.  Simply put, we can call it a failure to listen, and a vote on Non-Confidence.

Listening by the government is best demonstrated by muzzling the vampire fangs of the Chicken Mafia who suck on the blood of Canadians every day.

Who knew that chickens had such sharp vampire fangs?

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Antibiotic Disclosure by CFO & CFC

Chicken Farmers of Ontario ("CFO") and Chicken Farmers of Canada ("CFC") now have the data from quota-based farmers on their use of antibiotics in their chicken growing operations.  Will they disclose this information to the public?

In CFO's Fall Newsletter CFO explains that the quota-bearing chicken farmer must disclose their use of Class I to IV antibiotics in their chicken growing operation.  CFO states,

 "As of June 30th [2014], more than 150 surveys have been completed on Ontario farms"

That data can be quickly summarized so everybody can see the qualitative and quantitative scope of the antibiotic issues in Ontario.

If necessary, the data can be presented in an aggregated, anonymous form, protecting individual farmers from scorn or blowback from customers, neighbours, fellow farmers, or the public.  Until proven otherwise, I assume there is some extreme examples that will shock and upset most people.  Antibiotic and chemical use has been a "Wild Wild West" scenario for more than 60 years, so the naturally occurring diversity will astound most people.

This diversity is compounded by the right of any farmer to import almost any wild and crazy jungle juice, chemical, or additive under the "personal use" exemption.  I don't understand how growing food for an unsuspecting public can be classified as "personal use", but that seems to be what has been occurring.

While the data on Class I (critical & most important to human health) to Class IV (somewhat important to human health) antibiotics is available, CFO makes no mention of all the other secret sauces, chemicals, and potions that have been used in the past, and are likely still being used.

For example, organic arsenic, antihistamines, Prozac-like anti-depressants, caffeine, and Tylenol-like pain analgesics, and many other chemical and neutriceuticals have been fed to chickens in the US, and likely similarly in Canada for decades (see Blog posting Choose: Frankenstein Chicken, or Naturally Raised Chicken?).

Will CFO and CFC next find out and disclose what is being fed to these birds so we all know what's in our food?

How does CFO and CFC think a trusting relationship can be established (or continued) when one party refuses to disclose critical information to those most affected?

Based on what I have seen in the past, I doubt CFO or CFC will disclose anything until the are ordered to do so by the government.  Until the government acts, consumers will continue to slowly wake up, sense the abuse and untrustworthy actions of CFO and CFC, and consumers will seek out other suppliers who demonstrate their trustworthyness in a verifiable manner.

None of this will end well for the #ChickenMafia.

Justice for Small Flockers

Small Flockers have rights.

The power and authority of all governments are limited.

Governments have duties they must fulfill for their citizens.

Provided the government adequately respects its citizens, protects them and their property, and fulfill their duties for its people, then and only then do the citizens owe the government their loyalty.

As best as I am able to tease it out, the following table shows the hierarchy of laws for Canada.

The Chicken Mafia is not all powerful, in spite of what they may think.  Note that the Chicken Mafia are #13 in the hierarchy; last place.

The Federal and Provincial Governments are neither omnipotent nor all powerful.  There are significant limitations on their governmental powers.

There's hope for regaining the rights of Small Flockers, and every citizens' right to buy and/or grow safe, nutritious, affordable, adequate, and locally available food.

Small Flockers and their communities of family, friends and neighbours will eventually find justice, either with these current governments, or the new governments that will soon replace the fossilized, old, and worn out governments of today.

Hierarchy	Law Classification	Examples &/or Explanation
1 Most Supreme	God’s Law	Thou shall not kill
2	Natural Law	Gravity,
3	Inalienable Human Rights	Equality, freedom of thought and conscious, freedom from torture, dignity, right to food and to feed oneself, safety and sanctity of person, etc.
4	Fundamental rights, Fundamental Justice, Due process, Fairness, Rule of Law	Freedom from arbitrary arrest, right to face ones accusers and defend oneself, right for non-arbitrary decisions by government based on objective facts, freedom from secret trials, etc.
5	International Law, International Treaties	Geneva Convention, Free Trade Treaties, etc.
6	Common Law, Equity Law	Right to quiet enjoyment of your property, right to gainful employment, right to use highways and streets, etc. Right to fair treatment
7	Constitutional Law	1867 British North American Act Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
8	Peace, Order, & Good Government	Constitutional limits on the powers of Federal & Provincial governments & their statutes.  Governments must respect, protect, and fulfill their duties to help and protect its citizens, in return for their citizen’s loyalty to that government.
9	Federal Statutes	Canada’s Telecommunications Act Supply Management laws for chicken, eggs, turkeys, and dairy
10	Provincial Statutes	Highway Traffic Act Supply Management laws for chicken, eggs, turkeys, and dairy
11	Municipal Law	Ontario’s Municipal Act
12	Municipal By-laws & Resolutions	Municipal Zoning By-law, parking By-law, Noise By-law, Dog licensing
13 Weakest	Organizational By‑laws	By-law stating who is authorized to sign cheques, hold office, hire & fire, etc. Chicken Mafia (eg. Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Chicken Farmers of Canada, quota-bearing chicken producers, and all their henchmen) and their rules, By-laws, and decisions they impose on the Small Flockers and the public.

Soybean Price vs. Chicken Feed Price

Why is chicken feed price inflation

I talked about soybean prices, and compared then to live chicken farm gate prices in Canada and USA here.

I talked about Canadian feed industry and the growing concentration and market shares here, the major players in that feed market, and the price gouging they are imposing on Canadians disclosed here.

I showed here that there appears to be a chicken feed price conspiracy, where chicken feed has gone up 60% between 2002 and 2012, while cat & dog food has only gone up by 20% in the same time period, even though they use similar ingredients.

Soybean meal (48% protein) is one of the primary ingredients in all of these feeds.  Here is data from AAFC (Agriculture & Agri-Foods Canada) on Canadian soybean meal prices taken from advertised bulk prices.

We can see some market fluctuations, as occur naturally in a competitive market with supply & demand and new/old crop competition.  For the period between 1993 and 2013 (Year-to-Date), we have an average price increase of 1.99%/yr.

From 2002 to 2013, Canadian chicken feed prices rose 4.37%/yr on average.  Chicken feed increased at 219.6% higher than the major feed ingredient; soybean meal.

I wonder why?

Perhaps all of this can be easily explained by huge pay increases for the feed mill staff.  Assuming that soybean meal is the main variable cost which is 60% of the total cost, and fix costs are 10% of the total cost which is inflated at Cost of Living of 3%/yr on average, and employee wages are 30% of the total cost to make chicken feed, then annual raises of 9.59%/yr for feed mill employees who make chicken feed would explain this discrepancy.

If someone who works in a Canadian feed mill that makes chicken feed can contact us to confirm if they have been receiving 9.59%/yr pay raises, it would be most appreciated.

If the above theory of massive, continuous pay raises in chicken feed industry is all wet, then we can only explain this discrepancy as a conspiracy to defraud the Canadian public.

In that case, this latest data appears to be collaboration of my previous post that there is a dirty conspiracy going on upstream, within, and downstream of the Canadian chicken Supply Management system.

Assuming no massive pay raises, this fraud perpetrated on the Canadian public is costing Canadian consumers Billions of dollars every year. It is also weakening our entire Canadian economy.

What we need now, more than ever before in the history of Canada, is a strong, stable economy.

If the government chooses to be willfully blind and paralyzed to this fraud on hard working Canadians, then I suggest that the government is an accessory after the fact to this criminal chronic fraud for aiding and abetting the fraud,  The government is therefore a co-conspirator with all those who are directly involved in the fraud.

Are there any Crown Attorneys, Ministers, government bureaucrats, police, or citizens who are brave enough, frustrated enough, and intrigued enough to investigate further?

Is there anybody out there who is willing to help stop the carnage, and start the healing process?  

People! Please Pamper our Prince

We have a problem with chicken in Canada.  It's way too expensive.  We aren't maximizing the available benefits by growing lots of Canadian chicken for exporting around the world.  The current chicken system is unhealthy for both the chicken, and for us.

Why won't the government listen to the people and their complaints, and change the systems for the better? The problem doesn't stop with chicken.  There are many other evils in our society today that are within our control to change for the better.  So why don't the improvements occur?

I suggest there are really good reasons for the government refusing to act, which I will share with you later in this Blog posting.  First however, have patience while I give you some background info you will need later on so that you can better understand the answer.

"...A prince can never secure himself against a hostile people, because of their being too many, whilst from the nobles he can secure himself, as they are few in number." 

The Prince (1513), Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527)

Machiavelli was speaking about the ancient societies of Greece, Macedonia, and Rome, and the 1500's of Florence Italy.  Today, our society has significant differences from those historic times, but there is still much wisdom in his words, and many similarities for today.

Today, the "Princes" are the elected officials and their bureaucratic mandarins (ie. the civil service).  The "Nobles" are today's equivalent of the large corporations and wealthy individuals (ie. the 1%'ers).

Most people think Machiavelli was evil, the devil incarnate.  His name is now used as a label by psychiatrists for describing one of the three major personality disorders (The Dark Triad).  Does Machiavelli deserve this bad reputation?

Some feel Machiavelli got a bad rap, because he blabbed the secrets of the Princes, telling the people how "the system" really works.  The Princes already knew how to take and hold power against the people, no matter what; they didn't need Machiavelli telling them how to do it.  It was the people who were previously ignorant, until The Prince was published.  These students of history believe that the Princes never forgave Machiavelli for whistle-blowing on the Princes, so the Princes started up their propaganda machinery against Machiavelli, making him the scapegoat.  The rest, as they say, is history.

So Machiavelli suggests that the government needs to fear the people.  Machiavelli isn't the only one to realize this.

"Where the people fear the government you have tyranny.
Where the government fears the people you have liberty."

                                              John Basil Barnhill, 1914.

This quote is often wrongly attributed to Thomas Jefferson.  Hollywood punched this quotation up some more for the 2005 movie V for Vendetta by the The Wachowski Brothers 

“People should not be afraid of their governments.
Governments should be afraid of their people"

OK, so for the moment, let's assume government should be quaking in their boots.  If this is true, then why won't the the government act to make things better for the people?

Sometimes the crowd is desperate to get something from the government because they have been whipped into a frenzy by manipulators and evil persons.  The crowd ends up demanding something that is not in their best interest.  Witness Pontius Pilot who found Jesus innocent, but sentenced him to crucifixion in spite of innocence, due to the riotous demands of the crowd.  We have all heard the following:

“Be careful what you wish for,  for you may get it."

So I suggest that governments will respond, even when they shouldn't, if the public makes it clearly known that this is what the crowd wants.

For the good of all, the crowd should check to make sure that neither I nor others are manipulating the crowd for ulterior motives.  DO your homework, for you may get stuck with what you ask for.

If the crowd has not found its voice, then the government will continue on with those who make their voice known and heard, the default condition.

The bureaucrats want more regulations, for this creates good paying jobs and job security for their members in the civil service.  The hiring of lobbyists for the wealthy and the corporations is easily afforded by the rich and powerful.  These lobbyists tirelessly press and push their master's special interests, seeking greater wealth and power at the expense of the masses.  These are the default powers who control the political puppets, until the public speaks.

Realize also, the government is very wary of acting too soon, or based only on a few noisy voices.  For Machiavelli also said,

"It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them."

The Prince (1513), Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527)

So I conclude that the government fails to act because of you and me.

It is all our fault.

It is all the sleeping citizens, those who continue to sleep through their lives as the world spins out of control, those are the ones who are to blame.

We have nobody but ourselves to blame.

I have finally awoken after many decades of sleeping, just as you sleep today.  I found a terrible mess when I was finally awake.  I am ringing the alarm bell so all can wake up, see the mess, and ask government to fix it soon.

When will you hear the alarm, wake up, and raise your voice too?

Trafficking in Contraband Chicken ?

The Federal Government introduced legislation today to create a new crime, trafficking in contraband tobacco.

Agri007 reports that the Ontario Tobacco Marketing Board previously complained for a long time to both  Ontario and Federal governments that the trafficking in contraband tobacco was destroying their market supply and quota system.

With slow or no response for many years, the Tobacco Board eventually collapsed.  After the collapse, the government has finally gotten around to acting.

In July 2006, the Washington  Post reported the trafficking in contraband chicken from China to Viet Nam.  Bird flu caused the preventive slaughter of domestic chickens, resulting in a shortage of chicken meat, dramatically raising the price of locally available chicken.  The smugglers weren't long in filling the public's need for affordable chicken.  China is one of the world's largest producers of chicken.  The chicken traffickers played matchmakers between the producers and the neighbouring customers.

In Nov. 2010, the Canadian government warned everybody to be on the lookout for smuggled birds coming into Canada.  They were mainly worried about bird flu back then, but they acknowledged the risk of  bird smuggling.

On Feb. 5, 2011 Alberta Farmer paper reported that 1,800 lbs of smuggled chicken was found crossing from the US into Canada at Cornwall, believed destined for Quebec.

On Dec. 31, 2012 the International Herald Tribune reported a very profitable business smuggling chickens from Pakistan to Afghanistan, selling them for 4 times what they can get locally.

With a markup of 300% to 800% on the price of chicken between US and Canada, perhaps we had better prepare ourselves for the rising tide of trafficking in contraband chicken across our borders.  I'm sure it already occurs, but it may soon be one of our leading growth industries.

Since the government takes between 5 to 15 years to respond to urgent situations, I think we should put in our request early for action.  That means, feel free to send a copy of this post to your friendly neighbourhood Chicken Marketing Board, your Supervisory Supply Management Commission, and your provincial government.  Take a number, sit down, and patiently wait for action.

It shouldn't be any longer than the 15 years the Tobacco boys had to wait.

Documents

The following documents have been sent or received during the discussions between Small Flock Poultry Farmers and the various government officials and agencies:

1. 2012/01/06, G. Black --> OMAFRA, Email on problems with Meat Regulations
2. 2012/01/26, G. Black --> Hon. Gerry Ritz, Min. Ag. & Agri-Foods, Canada
3. 2012/02/13, G.Black --> OMAFRA, did you get email of 2012/01/06?
4. 2012/02/16, OMAFRA --> G.Black, Response to G.Black's email of 2012/01/06
5. 2012/02/20, G.Black --> OMAFRA, Response to OMAFRA letter of 2012/02/16
6. 2012/03/27, OMAFRA --> G.Black, Response to G.Black letter of 2012/02/20
7. 2012/04/18, G.Black --> OMAFRA, Response to OMAFRA letter of 2012/03/27
8. 2012/05/18, OMAFRA --> G.Black, Response to G.Black letter of 2012/04/18
9. 2012/05/22, G.Black --> OMAFRA, Response to OMAFRA letter of 2012/05/18
10. 2012/05/22, G.Black --> MICA (new local abattoir), will you please process my poultry? NO!
11. 2012/05/22, G.Black -->BurtFarms (local private abattoir), will you please process my poultry? NO!
12. 2012/05/22, G.Black -->CFO, asking for assistance to Small Flock Chicken Farmers
13. 2012/06/01, Risk Assessment Farm Gate Meat Sales
14. 2013/02/21, G.Black --> CFO, Complaint Small Flock Exemption, CFO Policies
    
    2013/03/09 Addendum: In Document 14 above (2013/02/21), at Section 9.m, I declare that I live in a food desert.  In the description of this local condition, I failed to mention a butcher shop that is about 5 km from the centre of our hamlet.  This butcher shop, Papa's Meats, sells meats, cheese,  locally caught whitefish, and a limited supply of canned goods, breads, and dairy products.  Unfortunately, they don't normally carry any fruits or vegetables (neither fresh nor frozen).  On page 2 of Document #15 below (2013/02/22), I made a similar statement about living in a food desert, and again failed to mention this same butcher shop.  My thanks to Joan at Papa's Meats for suggesting this clarification.
15. 2013/02/22, G.Black -->OMAF + Premier, Request change to Meat Regulations
16. 2013/02/25, CFO --> G.Black, Thanks for info, will consider sometime in future
17. 2013/02/25, G.Black --> CFO, Response to CFO letter 13/02/25, request immediate hearing
18. 2013/02/25, Petition for Improving Meat Regulations, Small Flock Quota Exemption Limits
19. 2013/03/01, CFO --> G.Black, Hearing request will be raised at next CFO Board meeting
20. 2013/03/07 G.Black --> CFC, Request evidence of compliance to Fed-Prov. Chicken agreement
21. 2013/03/21  CFO -->G.Black, Request for CFO Board hearing of complaint denied
22. 2013/03/25   SFPFC --> Public flyer on $10.8 Billion Fascist Chicken 
23. 2013/04/03 Chicken Full Disclosure Form for Traceability & Consumer's Benefit 
24. Mar. 26, 2013 G.Black --> FPMC to intercede on my behalf with my complaint against CFOO
25. May 23, 2013 FPMC -->G.Black refuses to intercede with CFO, refers me to OMAF Tribunal
26. June 6, 2013 G.Black--> OMAF Tribunal, asking for information on how to proceed with complaint.

Who is CFO working for?

Read the following:

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Act
   
• Farm Products Marketing Act
   
• Farm Products Marketing Commission rules
   
• Chicken Plan
  
  
• CFO's governance By-laws

In all these documents, not once do you see the requirement that this monopolistic system be run for the greater good of the Ontario public.

I wonder why not?

Unfortunately, CFO does as it is permitted to do; CFO acts in its own best interests, rather than for the greater good of the Ontario public.

I'm not sure if CFO acts in the best interest of the quota-bearing chicken farmers who they are supposed to represent.

The Ontario government created a monopolistic system of marketing boards, then allowed those board to slowly evolve into a weapon of mass destruction that is in daily use against Ontario's citizens.