Glenn Black says the members of the Ontario chicken board
owe consumers about $10 billion for over-charging them by using a faulty
cost-of-production formula.
The chicken board recently adjusted its formula to reflect
improved feed conversion rates.
Black calculates that the difference between the old and new
rates amounts to $1 billion per year, and that it’s been going on for 10 years,
hence his claim for $10 billion.
He says that amounts to an average $3.7 million per quota
holder and says they could pay it back by selling their quota.
Black further points to published claims by both the Ontario
and national chicken marketing bodies that they charge only a fair price for
their family labour and investment.
He says that’s false advertising and consumers could call in
officials who enforce the Ontario Consumer Protection Act under the section
that makes it a violation for “A
representation that misrepresents the purpose of any charge or proposed charge.”
Black has
set up a blog to serve as a critical watchdog on the chicken marketing board.
He is lobbying for a policy change to allow people to raise up to 2,000
chickens per quota period without having to buy quota. The current limit is 300
per quota period.
Black used “chicken
mafia” to headline his most recent posting on his blog
