PGC readies to lead pullet industry

Dec. 2, 2013, Ottawa, ON – The Pullet Growers of Canada (PGC) recently held their annual Board of Directors Business Planning session to set the stage for the year to come, in anticipation of a positive answer on agency status from the Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC).
 
During the past year, the PGC underwent legal hearings as part of the application process for Part II Agency Status with the FPCC. If the application is successful, it will give PGC the required legal powers to represent and make decisions on behalf of member provincial pullet grower organizations on issues related to cost of production, disease control, and animal welfare, among many other issues facing the industry. Stable pricing under supply management will allow pullet growers to reinvest in their farms and address social and environmental responsibilities to the standards expected by Canadians with consistent national programs.
 
“We have a number of issues that must be moved forward in order to ensure the long-term viability of our industry,” said Andy DeWeerd, PGC Chair. “The status quo is no longer good enough.”
 
Among those priority issues is animal welfare. In the coming year PGC will lead industry consultations to establish strong, measured and transparent animal welfare standards through the development of national Animal Welfare policies that encompass the full range of care, welfare, handling and transportations needs of the pullet life cycle from a one-day old chick through to 19 weeks.
 
PGC will also continue consultations with the National Farm Animal Care Council in reviewing the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets, Layers and Spent Fowl and ensuring greater specificity to the needs of pullets.
 
Other priorities set forth include further strengthening PGC’s relationships with the Egg Farmers of Canada and other industry partners, improving linkages with the pullet growers and continuing to move forward the Part II Agency Status process with the FPCC through the negotiation of a Federal Provincial Agreement.
 
A full update of activities along with elections will take place at PGC’s annual general meeting to be held March 19, 2014, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa.
 
“PGC has a lot of work to do in the coming year, however we’re up to it and are looking forward to seeing our efforts come to fruition,” summarized DeWeerd.