OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 25, 2012) - The judges have spoken and the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, has won the 2012 Everyone Wins With Canadian Chicken contest with his "Pesto Chicken Philly Melt" sandwich recipe.

Over the past month, an impressive 72 MPs submitted fantastic, innovative and creative recipes, which all had distinct touches that made them their own.

Minister Toews won $10,000 for a food bank in his riding. The other finalists, Olivia Chow and Sylvain Chicoine also won $5,000 and $2,500 donations.

Chicken Farmers of Canada is excited about the choice of the winning recipe, which will now be the recipe served to 10,000 hungry people in Major's Hill Park in Ottawa on Canada Day.

Chicken Farmers of Canada thanks fellow sponsor, Maple Leaf Foods, who will be providing the Maple Leaf Prime Chicken for the Canada Day BBQ and for their sizable contribution to the MP prizing.

This campaign resulted in over $25,000 being donated from coast-to-coast-to-coast to help food banks deliver services to those less fortunate - a compelling and necessary task. Chicken Farmers of Canada is a proud partner and supporter of food banks in Canada.

"We would like to thank contest partners Food Banks Canada, and fellow sponsors, Maple Leaf Foods and The Hill Times, along with all 72 MP participants in this campaign, for helping us do our part in the fight against hunger and in raising hunger awareness," said Dave Janzen, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada.

"Food Banks Canada is grateful for being a part of the Chicken Farmers of Canada "Everyone Wins with Canadian Chicken" Contest" says Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "This contest helped to raise awareness of food banks at a time of year when the issue of hunger is not top of mind yet donations are still greatly needed. Thank you to Chicken Farmers of Canada and Maple Leaf Foods!"

"We are very proud to support the Everyone Wins with Canadian Chicken contest with Chicken Farmers of Canada and Food Banks Canada," said Andrew Pollock, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Innovation, Maple Leaf Foods. "Raising awareness coast-to-coast about hunger issues and giving back to our communities is important to us, and we're pleased our partnership with these great organizations helped us do just that."

Here is the list of all 72 MPs, and their recipes, that participated!

Malcolm Allen, ON - Chicken Burger with Goats Cheese and Basil

Hon. Rona Ambrose, AB - The All-Canadian Maple Cheddar Chicken Sandwich

Scott Andrews, NL- Maple Bacon Chicken Sandwich

Hon. Keith Ashfield, NB - The Capital Burger

Alex Atamanenko, BC - Alex's Arriba Canada Day Chicken with Salsa Fresca

Hon. Carolyn Bennett, ON - Chicken Sandwich Mojito

Tyrone Benskin, QC - Chicken Sandwich with Apples and Mango

Ray Boughen, SK - Carol's Big Fat Greek Sammy

Peter Braid, ON - Braid's Better Butter Chicken on a Bun

Garry Breitkreuz, SK - Best BBQ Grilled Chicken

Hon. Scott Brison, NS - Grilled Jerk Chicken

Ruth Ellen Brosseau, QC - Sandwich de poulet grillé À la chèvre

Brad Butt, ON - Honey Soy Glazed Chicken BLT

Ron Cannan, BC - Kelowna-Lake Country Sunshine Chicken Burger

Sean Casey, PEI - The Island's Best Chicken Sandwich

Chris Charlton, ON- Grilled Chicken Breasts in a Mango-Curry Marinade

Ryan Cleary, NL - The Fighting Newfoundlander's Lip-Smacking Screech-Grilled Chicken

Jean Crowder, BC - Chicken and Brie Ciabatta

Rodger Cuzner, NS - Acadian-Cajun Spiced Chicken on Bannock with Nova Scotia Chow-Chow

Patricia Davidson, ON - Grilled Chicken Souvlaki

Barry Devolin, ON - Southwest Chicken Sandwich

Paul Dewar, ON - Zesty Lime Chicken Sandwich

Linda Duncan, AB - Perfect Summer Sandwich

Rick Dykstra, ON - Dutch Thunder Burger

Hon. Wayne Easter, PEI - The Malpeque Mammoth

Mylène Freeman, QC - Sandwich POP (Poulet-Oka-Poivrons)

Royal Galipeau, ON - Sandwich au poulet grillé "Canuck"

Marc Garneau, QC - Out of this World Chicken Pita Wrap

Shelly Glover, MB - Saint Boniface left-over Chicken Salad Bunwich

Jacques Gourde, QC - Pain pita au poulet au cari et raisins sec

Sana Hassainia, QC - Festin de poulet grillé à l'érable

Hon. Laurie Hawn, AB - Not-for-the-faint-of-heart

Carol Hughes, ON - Swiss Chalet-style Chicken Sandwich

Gerald Keddy, NS - Keddy's Cayenne Chicken Sandwich

Hon. Jason Kenney, AB - Jason's Spicy Korean BBQ Sandwich

Daryl Kramp, ON - Popeye Chicken

Pierre Dionne Labelle, QC - Poulet mariné sur pain ciabatta

Megan Leslie, NS - Chicken Salsa Sandwich Grill

Tom Lukiwski, SK - Tom's Terrific Chicken Sandwich

Laurin Liu, QC - Sandwich au poulet, à la mangue et à l'avocat

Ryan Leef, YK - Chicken Mexicano

Brian Masse, ON - Summer Maple Chicken Sandwich

Irene Mathyssen, ON - Mathyssen BBQ Chicken

Phil McColeman, ON - The John Candy

Hon. John McKay, ON - Honey I Barbecued the Chicken

Costas Menegakis, ON - Greek Chicken Burger

Isabelle Morin, QC - Mexi casa québec

Marie-Claude Morin, QC - Sandwich au poulet à l'orange

Maria Mourani, QC - Sandwich de poulet grillé à la québécoise

Joyce Murray, BC - The Murray Munch

Hon. Rob Nicholson, ON - Spicy Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich

LaVar Payne, AB - Grilled Chicken Cacciatore

Louis Plamondon, QC - Tournedos à l'ananas

Joe Preston, ON - Waffle Maple Chicken Sandwich

Hon. Bob Rae, ON - The Toronto Crunch

John Rafferty, ON - Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Avocado Sandwich

Hon. Lisa Raitt, ON - Queen's Diamond Jubilee Chicken Sandwich

Mathieu Ravignat, QC - Mango Cashew Chicken

Hon. Geoff Regan, NS - Geoff's Cranberry Chutney Chicken Sandwich

Blake Richards, AB - Honey Mustard Chicken Burgers

Hon. Gerry Ritz, SK - Cowboy's Chicken

Hon. Judy Sgro, ON - Chipotle Avocado Chicken Melts

Scott Simms, NL - Key Lime Grilled Chicken on Ciabatta Roll

Joy Smith, MB - Canada Day Chicken Wrap

Mark Strahl, BC - Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon Chicken Sandwich

Glenn Thibeault, ON - Grilled Chicken Waldorf Sandwich

Hon. Tim Uppal, AB - Barbeque Tandoori Chicken

Hon. Peter Van Loan, ON - Simply Delicious Tunnel BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Rodney Weston, NB - Saint John Gooey Chicken Sandwich

All entries will be included in an online digital cookbook for everyone to enjoy.

CFC is responsible for chicken raised and sold commercially in Canada. We represent our 2,700 farmers, and ensure that the chicken that reaches your table is safe, delicious, and raised to the highest standards.

Chicken Farmers of Canada is online at www.chicken.ca.