Alberta back in national chicken quota system

November 2, 2017, Ottawa, Ont. – The final step in concluding a new Federal Provincial Agreement for Chicken (FPA) was taken earlier this week. On October 31^st, Farm Products Council of Canada determined that Governor-in-Council approval is not required for the new FPA.

This brings to close more than eight years of discussions and negotiations to arrive at a new allocation methodology that is not only supported by all federal and provincial signatories, but also delivers on the requirements of the Farm Products Agencies Act for Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) to take comparative advantage into account when allocating production growth.

The new FPA provides increased certainty to all industry stakeholders. “With it, we have the tools we need to grow, develop and thrive,” Benoît Fontaine, chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada, added in a press release. “This FPA marks our industry’s total commitment to a dynamic and always evolving supply management system for chicken.”

With the new FPA in hand, today, the Canadian chicken industry welcomed back Alberta Chicken Producers into the agreement, bringing all provinces back into the system. 

Alberta had withdrawn from the FPA in 2013, but continued to work at CFC on the modernization of the allocation system to ensure that Canadians from coast to coast continue to enjoy a steady supply of fresh, high-quality, Canadian-grown chicken.

“Our focus on responding quickly to the changing demands of consumers in every province, and to meeting all our challenges, are among the many reasons we are a Canadian success story,” Fontaine said. “We’re excited to have all our provinces back on board.”

“The agreement provides strength to the Canadian chicken industry and shows that we can work together to evolve our supply management system for the benefit of all,” CFC executive director Michael Laliberté added.

Supply management is a uniquely Canadian response to market volatility in a perishable product market. Consumer demand is rarely static. It changes as a result of demographic shifts, immigration from countries with different food preferences, and new science related to human health and nutrition.

This latest FPA is paramount to the Canadian chicken industry’s continued strategic growth. The active support and participation of the federal and provincial governments enhances the nation’s international trade position, backing Canada’sright to use the marketing systems of its choice.