Mendy Boyarsky is challenging the Jewish Community Council of Montreal at Canada’s Competition Tribunal over alleged market dominance and high kosher meat prices in the city, cbc.ca reported. The legal challenge targets the council’s non-profit arm, MK Kosher, which certifies local meat products and supplies.
Federal Competition Tribunal Considers Market Dominance Allegations
Federal Court Judge Jocelyne Gagné will determine whether the lawsuit brought by the owner of Aleph Meats proceeds before the federal tribunal. Boyarsky alleges that MK Kosher and the Jewish Community Council of Montreal, known as the JCC, use their market position to pressure local congregations into buying exclusively certified products. Joshua Krane, a competition law specialist and partner at MLT Aikins in Ottawa, noted that recent legislative changes via Bill C-56 and Bill C-59 expanded private access to the tribunal. These legislative updates allow the tribunal to weigh cases based on public interest grounds.
The JCC denies all allegations of anti-competitive practices. Rabbi Haim Nataf, authorized to speak for the JCC and MK Kosher, stated that Boyarsky’s lawsuit rests on misconceptions about the local market. Nataf maintained that a certifier does not sell meat and therefore cannot compete with meat sellers or dictate retail prices.
Price Comparison Between Montreal and New York Grocers
Kosher meat consumers in Montreal frequently travel to New York in search of lower prices ahead of holidays and private events, according to cbc.ca. A price check conducted between Oct. 16 and 19 across four major grocery chains and two butcher shops in Montreal revealed noticeable disparities when compared to certain New York locations. For instance, ground beef at Bingo Wholesale in New York was found to be 40 to 50 per cent cheaper than at some MK Kosher-certified Montreal retailers, even after factoring in currency conversion.
Meanwhile, Aleph Meats operates outside the MK Kosher system by using Kashrut Supervision du Rabbinat, sourcing beef from South America. CBC’s investigation found that ground beef at Aleph Meats was 18 to 37 per cent cheaper than comparable MK Kosher-certified items in Montreal. Nataf countered that Bingo Wholesale represents an outlier and insisted that reasonable deals remain available for shoppers willing to compare local prices.
Ancient Religious Law Confronts Modern Competition Rules
Discussions around the cost of kosher food often touch upon Sh’chutei Chutz, a Jewish legal principle that maintains a closed market to protect local community slaughterers and religious infrastructure. Rabbi Reuben Poupko of the Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation described the practice as a historical relic from small Eastern European villages.
Nataf defended the JCC’s application of Sh’chutei Chutz as lenient, pointing out that MK Kosher certifies beef imported from overseas. According to documents filed in the JCC affidavit, Montreal’s top three MK-certified kosher meat distributors generated $37.5 million in gross sales for 2025. Nataf added that certification fees only add about 51 cents per kilogram to retail prices, with any surplus reallocated to community needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Montreal Kosher Meat Dispute
Who is challenging the kosher certification system in Montreal?
Mendy Boyarsky, owner of Aleph Meats in Côte Saint-Luc, filed the legal challenge against the Jewish Community Council of Montreal at the Competition Tribunal.
What role does the Jewish Community Council play in the local market?
The JCC operates MK Kosher, a prominent certification body that oversees religious standards for meat preparation, restaurants, and synagogues throughout Montreal.
What legal changes made this tribunal case possible?
Parliament passed Bill C-56 and Bill C-59 in December 2023 and June 2024, expanding private access to Canada’s Competition Tribunal on public interest grounds.
How do prices in Montreal compare to other cities?
CBC’s investigation found that ground beef at certain New York grocers was 40 to 50 per cent cheaper than at select Montreal MK-certified retailers, prompting some consumers to travel for purchases.
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