A complaint from Saskatchewan that the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency has not lived up to the terms of a national agreement when it allocated more quota is in a judge’s hands.
Federal court judge Michel Shore heard two days of arguments in Vancouver earlier this month.
Michael Katz, general manager of Saskatchewan Egg Producers, said Shore told the parties that he intended to make a quick decision. Katz hopes that means within four months.
Saskatchewan asked the judge to review allocations for growth in quota made by the national agency between August and December 2004, and in 2005.
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The province argued that in its allocation the agency used two factors not specified in federal legislation or the 1976 federal-provincial agreement.
Katz said the law’s objectives are to have due regard for the interests of both producers and consumers, and to promote a strong, efficient and competitive industry.
He said about two million of British Columbia’s 2.5 million layer birds are located in a 130 sq. kilometre zone in the Fraser Valley.
Saskatchewan has about one million layers spread throughout the province.
There are risks to having so many birds so close together in B.C., he said, yet quota continues to move to that province because of its population. He questioned the rationale for putting more birds into provinces that are highly industrialized, and fewer birds into the agricultural provinces with lower populations, where the producers are more efficient and specialized.
Saskatchewan asked the judge to tell the national agency that it incorrectly allocated overbase quota and it should be redone.
“We feel that we made a strong case,” said Katz.
Should the province win, he expects production would move and create more demand for feed grain.
Saskatchewan’s share of egg production has declined since the supply management system was set up in 1976. Then, it held 4.7 percent of production but that number has dropped below four percent.
