Small Flock Petition

Ontario has an important decision to make about the additional chicken quota that has been awarded to Ontario by Chicken Farmers of Canada ("CFC").

Previously, there was some confusion about who said what and the position adopted by various stakeholders.  SFPFC is independent of all other organizations, but will work co-operatively with all individuals and organizations who share 1 or more of our principles.  That confusion appears to be fully cleared up by this Blog posting, as well as here and here.  We await the eventual correction of other media reports that make contradictory statements.

We have previously discussed the recent opportunity for chicken quota, and the gathering stakeholders of diverse viewpoints (see prior Blog postings here, here, here, here, and here)

The extra quota could be gifted, leased, or sold to the millionaire chicken producers, primarily located in Southern Ontario.  It is suggested this option will minimize the economic spin-off effects, and continue the under-servicing, abandonment, or poor servicing of the specialty chicken markets.

Petition for Affordable, Nutritious, Locally Produced Chicken for Ontario

You can sign the petition on-line here

Alternatively, the extra chicken quota can be earmarked for Small Flockers located throughout Ontario.  Small Flockers currently serve, and will likely better serve the diverse needs for specialty chicken, such as:

• antibiotic-free,
• diversified farm,
• drug-free,
• enhanced animal welfare,
• free range,
• full disclosure,
• full traceability,
• growth promotant free,
• Halal,
• heirloom breeds,
• high sustainability,
• integrated farm,
• Kosher,
• locally produced,
• low carbon impact,
• low environmental impact,
• low fossil fuel use,
• low Greenhouse Gas impact, and
• naturally raised,
• organic,
• pastured,
• slow-grow,
• small farm,
• Other specialty chickens and processes

We welcome all individuals and organizations to come join with Small Flockers.  To facilitate this, we have drafted a petition to summarize the issues and our prayers to the Federal and Provincial governments to set Small Flockers free, and thereby maximize the benefits for Ontario and the rest of Canada.

First Heinz, now Kellogg's, Who's Next?

Heinz's closure will take away 740 direct, and possibly another 500 indirect jobs.  Kellogg's closure is 500 direct jobs, and likely another 500 indirect jobs; for a grand total of 2,240 jobs leaving Ontario's agri-foods sector.

Premier & Ag Minister Wynne announced a few months ago that she wants a doubling of agri-food exports before 2020.  Now that Heinz and Kellogg's are leaving us, she is miles behind the starting point she had a few months ago.

Whatever will she do?  Here is a suggestion:

As posted on this Blog on Mar. 13, 2013 Why Not Export Canadian Chicken? Canada’s #ChickenMafia has only 1.4% market share of exported chicken for OECD nations; a mere insignificant blip.  Canada is in last place, last out of the 7 OECD nations for chicken exports.

Canada is an exporting nation.  Canada could export chicken too.  Theoretically, Canada could, if we worked hard, gain up to 50% market share for OECD exported chicken.  It would take a while to achieve, but if we did this, Canada would need to grow 5 times more chicken than what we do today.  That means 5 times more jobs, 5 times bigger markets for Canada’s grains, 5 times the spin-offs for feed mills, farm machinery, etc.

Chicken Farmers of Ontario (“CFO”) recently announced that Ontario’s #ChickenMafia produce $2.7 Billion per year of economic activity in Ontario.  Since Ontario is about 1/3 of all chicken in Canada, we can project that all of Canada has $8.1 Billion of #ChickenMafia impact.  Taking this to 5 times current activity for OECD chicken exports, that’s $40.5 Billion for Canada, and Ontario’s share would be 1/3 of that, which would be $13.5 Billion.

Would Premier Wynne be happy to get an additional $10.8 Billion per year (13.5 – 2.7= 10.8) of economic activity and exports for Ontario’s agri-foods sector?

I think so.

There’s only one problem:   Supply Management for chicken.

Right now, the #ChickenMafia have 99.97% market share for chicken in Canada, at a price which is 300% higher than the world price, thanks to their Supply Management monopoly.  The #ChickenMafia prefer to suck the blood of Canadians at 300% price gouging, rather than the challenges of exporting chicken onto the world market.

If others could get a sweetheart deal like the #ChickenMafia monopoly, they’d likely do the same, so let's not be too quick to blame the #ChickenMafia.  It was the government who freely gave them, and continues to support them with this monopoly.

Perhaps we can encourage the #ChickenMafia to come out of their shell, spread their wings, and compete on the international chicken markets, if not for themselves, then as their patriotic duty to help their fellow Canadians [pause until laughter subsides, then continue].

There is just one problem.  Nobody else in the world is stupid enough, if given a choice, to pay 300% more for their chicken.  Therefore, it's a non-starter for Canada's #ChickenMafia to try exporting chicken at Canadian domestic prices.  If the #ChickenMafia wants to export chicken, it will have to be at the world price for chicken.

With WTO (World Trade Organization) rules, #ChickenMafia can’t export chicken for sale at world prices, because that is the definition of “dumping” (ie. selling internationally at prices lower than domestic prices).  As soon as Canada’s #ChickenMafia started exporting at world chicken prices, and if they were to gain significant market share, they would soon be slapped with dozens of WTO complaints for dumping, and the trade wars begin.

Darn!  Another great idea hits a brick wall.  If only we didn’t have 100% commitment to Supply Management and the price gouging that the #ChickenMafia gets to do to Canadians.  That extra $10.8 Billion per year of agri-exports from Ontario sure looked appealing.

Oh well, there’s always Ontario Works (ie. welfare, government dole).  Let somebody else worry about it.  Let the “Power That Be” come up with a better idea that actually has a hope of being implemented.

What do I know?  I’m just an unemployed bum after decades of working at Heinz or Kellogg’s or elsewhere.