The national agency for turkey farmers has a new tool for
settling disputes without resorting to appeals to the Farm Products Council of
Canada, which is its supervisory body.
The internal disputes-settling mechanism involves
third-party mediation.
The voluntary alternative is based on the rules of the
Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada.
It's an initiative that ought to be copied by the national agencies for chickens and eggs.
They have spend countless hours, emotional energy and dollars on disputes that have sometimes threatened the very continued existence of the supply management system they cherish.
Dealing with these disputes has been the most onerous part
of the work of the national council, which is appointed by the federal
agriculture minister to supervise the national agencies.
There ought to be a better way, and kudos to the national turkey agency for trying a new approach.