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Agriculture
Policy Debate
On June 8, the Canadian Federation
of Agriculture (CFA) hosted a public debate on agricultural
issues. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and
four opposition party agriculture critics took part. The audience
included farmers, representatives of national farm organizations,
government officials and media.
The participants were The Honourable Bob Speller(Liberal),
Gerry Ritz (Conservative), Dick Proctor (NDP),
Louis Plamondon (Bloc Québecois) and Tom
Manley (Green Party). John Morriss, Editor and
Publisher, Farmers' Independent Weekly, moderated the event.
Each participant presented his party's agriculture policy
platform. Three panelists, Bob Friesen (President,
CFA), Laurent Pellerin (President, UPA and 1st Vice
President, CFA) and Marvin Shauf (2nd Vice President,
CFA) posed questions regarding each party's position on a
number of issues.
Some of the issues discussed were: plans for negotiating
a WTO agreement that is positive for both exporting and domestic
interest groups, increasing market access while maintaining
supply management and the Canadian Wheat Board, an economic
plan for recovery from the BSE and Avian Influenza outbreaks,
and improving rural infrastructure.
All candidates voiced their support for the supply management
system and recognized its value to Canadian agriculture. They
applauded the CFA for holding this inaugural debate and thanked
the CFA and other farm organizations for their work on behalf
of Canadian farmers.
For more information, visit the CFA's website at www.cfa-fca.ca/english/2004-election/index.htm.
Council Business
Terms End for Two Council Members
Council said farewell to two
of its members this month. Sandy McCurrach of British
Columbia had been a member of Council since 1998. He is the
former owner/operator of Purity Feed Co. Ltd. and Jamieson
Creek Ranch in Kamloops and past executive member of the Canadian
Turkey Marketing Agency, the B.C. Turkey Marketing Board,
and the B.C. Feed Industry Association.
Mrs. Anne Chong Hill, of Vancouver, BC had also been
a member since 1998. She is the co-founder and President of
Global Gourmet Foods Inc., a member of the Canadian Agri-Food
Marketing Council, and a member of the Advisory Council to
the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries of British
Columbia.
Council Chair Cynthia Currie said, "Both members
were excellent contributors to the work of the Council and
will be missed."
June 7 Council Meeting in
Mont Tremblant
A Council meeting was held on
June 7 in Mont Tremblant, in conjunction with the CPEPC Annual
Meeting and Convention. Items on the agenda included discussion
of current business of the four poultry and egg marketing
agencies and the beef promotion and research agency, an update
on the BC turkey complaint and follow-up to the Grocery and
Food Service Forum.
BC Turkey Complaint
Council has received a letter
from the BC signatories proposing a meeting in late June to
discuss this matter. A meeting will be scheduled in the near
future.
Chicken Quota Order- A-59
Following the May 10 Council
meeting, Council had asked that CFC provide a quota order
for A-59 with updated provincial allocations that reflected
what other provinces agreed to grow to meet BC market requirements.
In addition, Council asked that an action plan be provided
demonstrating how chicken supply will be managed during this
and future periods. While CFC provided a revised rationale
for Period A-59, they did not provide a revised quota order.
Council did not review the quota order, as it was unchanged
from the one submitted at Council's May 10 meeting.
Forum on Grocery and Food Service
Follow-up
A letter and questionnaire have
been sent to all Forum participants. Comments and suggestions
would be greatly appreciated.
A report is being prepared and will be made available to
all participants.
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June 2004
October Council
Meeting Date Changed
The Council meeting originally
scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2004 has been changed to
October 13 and 14.
Agency News
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency
The Agency held a Board of Directors
Meeting on June 15 specifically to discuss and set quota regulations
and levy orders for the period from August 1 to December 25,
2004.
Effective August 1, 2004, the Agency proposes to set regulated
layers at 20,243,107, a 290,823 layer increase. There will
be no change from the Eggs for Processing or Market Development
Quota levels currently in effect.
The Agency is reporting a very strong balance for the Pooled
Income Fund and is projecting to end the year at $58.1 million.
The two main reasons for this are: higher demand for table
eggs, which results in a lower volume of industrial (breaker)
eggs entering the Industrial Product Program, and high U.S.
breaker egg prices which are used as the base for Canadian
breaker egg prices.
As a result, effective August 1, 2004, the Agency proposes
to drop its levy by 2 cents per dozen to 23 cents per dozen.
The proposed quota and levies orders will be considered by
the Council at its July 27 and 28 meeting.
Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency
The CTMA's 196th Meeting will
take place in Winnipeg on June 22 and 23, 2004. One of the
items on the agenda will be the continuing discussions on
allocation policy. The Agency hopes to have a final draft
Allocation Policy for its September meeting.
Industry
News
CPEPC Convention
The CPEPC's Annual Meeting and
Convention was held at Mont Tremblant, Quebec from June 6
to 8. The event featured a number of interesting and inspiring
speakers.
Mr. Jean-Pierre Léger, President and CEO, Rôtisseries
St-Hubert Barbecue, spoke of his "Vision for the Future".
Plenary topics were "Getting the Value Out of Your
Value Chain" and "Avian Influenza - Facing
Reality".
Keynote Speaker Danièle Sauvageau's moving
presentation "Going for Gold in Leadership - You Can't
Reach Your Goal Without an Assist" gave a captivating
insight into her philosophy as she lead her women's hockey
team to the gold medal at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake
City.
The Max Wiener Award was presented to Rock Laroche
of Mariel Canada Inc. Pieter Vanderpol, Vanderpol's
Eggs Ltd. received an Outstanding Contribution Award.
Congratulations to both on the recognition of their contributions
to the Canadian poultry and egg industry.
For more details, please visit the CPEPC's website at:
www.cpepc.ca/special_
features/Convention
WrapUp.asp
John Slot Joins Cericola Farms
John Slot, former 1st
Vice Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada, recently joined the
management team of Cericola Farms/Sure Fresh Foods Inc. of
Bradford, Ontario.
Mr. Slot, a producer from Moorefield, Ontario, is well known
in the chicken industry at both the provincial and national
levels. He is a strong supporter of the supply management
system and will continue to play an active role.
We congratulate him on his appointment and wish him the best
of luck.
Chairman of Ontario Commission to
Retire
Rod Stork, Chairman of
the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission, has announced
his retirement effective December 31, 2004. He will be leaving
the Commission as of September 3.
In a letter to Council Chair Cynthia Currie, Mr. Stork
said "During my 34 years with the (Ontario) Ministry
of Agriculture and Food it has been the people that I have
had the opportunity to work with that have made my career
so rewarding."
Mr. Stork thanked Council members and staff for their support
and assistance during his tenure as Chairman of the Commission.
He expressed his confidence that the agri-food sector will
continue to grow and flourish and congratulated Council on
its strong leadership.
We wish him all the best in his retirement.
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