The Rural Voice, 1979-10, Page 29"Chicken fight"
The Ontario chicken farmers' war
against imported cheap U.S. chickens
continues with U.S. officials making a push
for the most generous share possible of the
Canadian chicken market.
Agriculture Minister John Wise an-
nounced earlier in September that the
recently created Canadian Chicken Mark-
eting Agency should have a fully effective
national supply management system in
place by Oct. 1, 1979.
Ontario chicken farmers have already
been to Ottawa to air their protests. The
farmers feel chicken surpluses in both the
U.S. and Canada have depressed prices
below production costs and the farmers are
losing money.
Peter Hannam, Ontario Federation of
Agriculture president, said the current
problem with chicken imports has devel-
oped because the previous government
procrastinated in establishing a national
chicken agency. A few companies, in the
hope of receiving large import quotas, have
taken advantage of the delay by increasing
their chicken imports. The result is an
oversupply and distressed prices for the
processors and producers.
Mr. Hannam has also urged the federal
government retailers not be allowed to
import chicken directly. He said it should
be stressed to negotiators meeting with the
Americans that the most important issue is
to have future chicken imports reduced to
the level of the early 1970's.
U.S. officials meeting with the Canadian
negotiators urged Canada to let chicken
exporters keep "their share of a growing
market."
No definite decision about import levels
was made during the meeting. More talks
will be held in Ottawa on Oct. 1.
The chicken marketing agency was first
promised in 1976, but was delayed when
the former Liberal cabinet members de-
bated whether or not it served the interests
of consumers.
Canadian chicken farmers claim that
processing companies have artificially
increased imports of chicken from the U.S.
to keep down the prices paid to Canadian
farmers.
New appointments
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and
Food, Ken Lantz, has announced the
appointment of James A. MacDonald as
principal of the Ridgetown College of
Agricultural Technology. J. Douglas
Jamieson has been named as principal of
cstle
budch
centre
Gyproc
WALL-
BOARD
Easy to install.
Fire resistant,
takes all
finishes from
stucco to
wallpaper.
4'x8'x3/•"
4'x 8' x'/2"
Lumber Dept.
PLYWOOD VALUE
Fir, good one
side. 4' x8' x O.
SLAB LOUVER
Louver or Slab
BIFOLD DOORS
Easy to install, pre -
finished, ready to paint,
stain or varnish.
Fiberglass
INSULATION
Do -it - yourself. Low cost
Energy Saver.
Rigid Foam
INSULATION
Helps cut energy costs
4' x 8' sheets.
3/4' thick 1' thick
R.20
Ask about our Rental Program
centredisde
banking
Bayfield
Building Centre
Highway 21, Barfield 565-2990
THE RURAL VOICE/OCTOBER 1979 PG. 27