By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday September 17, 2024

Sep 19, 2024 | 10:18 AM

The matter of bread price fixing is before the courts.

The Canada Bread Company filed a Statement of Defence and Crossclaim in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against Maple Leaf Foods to hold it accountable for Canada Bread’s damages.

In the claim filed Sept. 12, 2024, Canada Bread alleges that Maple Leaf failed to act in accordance with the law and breached its management agreements with Canada Bread.

From 1995 to 2014, as the controlling shareholder, Maple Leaf appointed directors to serve on the Canada Bread board of directors and positioned some of the most senior officers of Maple Leaf to operate Canada Bread and occupy the most senior executive role. Maple Leaf represented to Canada Bread that in performing services for Canada Bread it would comply with all applicable laws.

The claim alleges that Maple Leaf’s personnel directed and participated in certain anti-competitive conduct, which was the subject of an investigation by the Competition Bureau of Canada into the commercial bread industry.

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The investigation led to class actions being brought against Canada Bread and resulted in Canada Bread paying a fine of $50 million in 2023. Canada Bread claims Maple Leaf used Canada Bread as a shield, causing Canada Bread to assume the liabilities of the wrongful conduct, to the benefit of Maple Leaf.

Canada Bread said it brought this claim to hold Maple Leaf to account for any and all of its costs, expenses and damages resulting from such breaches, including those related to the Competition Bureau’s investigation. The claim seeks compensation and indemnity from Maple Leaf.

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4-H Alberta will continue its partnership with Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) by receiving another $50,000 sponsorship investment.

The key component of the partnership is the CO-OP Growing Leaders Program. The program is designed to remove barriers and provide easy access for youth who may have been curious about 4-H Alberta but have never enrolled in a local club.

During the inaugural rollout in the 2023/2024 club year, 209 members joined through the CO-OP Growing Leaders Program.

4-H Alberta CEO Kurt Kinnear said the program provides an opportunity to grow leadership and life skills, make lifelong friends, and have fun in the process.

“We appreciate FCL and the growing number of participating Co-ops; they are like-minded community partners who value and support Alberta’s youth as much as we do,” Kinnear said. “FCL and the participating Co-ops understand and appreciate the importance of our young members who will become the future leaders in our communities.”

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW