Agriculture Committee on Sept. 28th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Yes, we would have to figure that out. But it could be an early morning or an evening, or whatever Jean-François can organize for a room.

Alex.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

So then where does the Wheat Board go? We have them now on the 30th.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

I guess it depends on whom you talk to.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Don't forget, you're impartial, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Well, that was an impartial statement.

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Again, this is the first time we're starting to work with this, so certainly there are going to be some bumps and some hurdles, but I think we can make it work. And if we start to fit in that extra meeting, I think we can smooth that week out quite substantially.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

We also have the possibility of extending those sessions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Yes, we do.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

That's another possibility.

I just want to make sure we have enough time for the golden nematode and the....

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Right.

Everything that's on the calendar will be covered. It's just a matter of juggling the schedule to try to expand this CGC, for continuity's sake, because we're on the schedule now, so we can get on with regulation and the legislative changes that will be required. That's it. But we will do our best to accommodate everyone.

Mr. Miller.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We have a lot of issues on our plate here and one doesn't like to add any more to them, but there's no use in doing a job half right. That's why I believe we should have the Grain Commission here and deal with this. I can understand the concern on the nematode, and we need to deal with that ASAP.

One witness that I think is really important for the review that's been done on the Canadian Grain Commission is the biofuel industry, given the fact that new strategies are coming out on biofuel. I think it would not be good if we did not at least give them a chance to be here. So they certainly should be at the top of the list, if we can get them here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Speaking to the licensing of the new varieties and so on.... Okay.

Mr. Steckle, a final word.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Basically, I don't have much to add to what's already been said. I would simply say that we have already given, at the end of this session, two meetings where we have not included anything. So if we have to push some of those less important things into that area.... Where we possibly can, we always need to accommodate those people who are already in town, so we don't have to bring those people in.

I think we will accommodate all these things.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you.

Is there anyone else with a final point?

All right, good. We'll continue on with our meeting then.

Joining us this morning, we have Dr. Conrad Winn and Tom Halpenny of COMPAS Inc., which put together the report we're discussing at this point.

Gentlemen, you have ten or twelve minutes for opening statements. Then we'll move to the round of questioning.

[Dr. Conrad Winn, President, COMPAS Inc.]

Thank you very much, Mister Chairman.

I will limit my observations to three points so as to give you enough time for questions.

There are three ideas why I think it's important to look at the issues we're here together for. One is global, the other is continental, and the third is Canadian.

The international/global situation is one in which there are so many changes and so many new competitors that Canada's traditional position is not as sure as it once was. That's not to raise any questions about any player in the value process; it's just a true fact that the international situation puts us in a state of potential competitive threat we haven't had to face in the past.

A second reason to look at these issues is the continental situation and the unique role of ethanol in biofuels, as one member raised a moment ago, simply as a result of the security situation. It's the international security situation that gives ethanol an extraordinary place it might not otherwise have.

The third reason to look at these issues is that values and public expectations about accountability, transparency, efficiency, and ways of doing things change with every generation. On a lot of these issues, especially the ethical issues, public expectations rise greatly with each generation, and that's another good reason to look at some of the issues we raised.

We presented 100-odd recommendations. Rather than go through them, I thought—and Tom agreed with me—we could simply open it up to questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

That's excellent.

Tom, do you have any points to make at this juncture?

[Tom Halpenny, Collaborator, COMPAS Inc.]

As Conrad stated, I think the most effective use of time is to allow members to ask us questions, and then we can provide answers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Mr. Steckle.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

You talk about things changing, and all of us around this table would agree. Whether they always change in a positive way is a matter of interpretation for those who are affected by those changes.

When I look at what is happening in marketing and retail in this country, and when I see who is involved in your organization and who has the biggest share in Agricore United, it's none other than ADM. I have to wonder whether the Walmarts, the ADMs, and the Cargills of this world are positive attributes in terms of the distribution of wealth in this country or whether it's centralized wealth that's going into the hands of those who are not necessarily Canadian. I wonder if you can give me some sense of where you feel we're going in terms of this Balkanization of corporations.

You talk about competition. Do you want more competition? I gather from your opening comment that you really don't want more competition, that this isn't good for the marketplace. I'm just wondering how you interpret all that and how that makes some sort of sense in this economy of ours.

[Dr. Conrad Winn]

I'm from COMPAS Research, the public opinion customer service firm, and it's wonderful to hear people say positive things about us. But we're not a multinational; we're a small firm.

Like most other research firms, we probably think there's too much competition in our industry. But if you're asking me whether I think competition is good--sure. I think no one improved on Lord Acton. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that means you need competition.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I agree with many of the recommendations of COMPAS. I think we've expressed this morning that there's a need for us to continue to have witnesses come before this committee to bring a fuller picture of where we're going.

But I can never forget. I look at some of the things here this morning....

You're simply here from COMPAS. I thought we were talking about Agricore United coming to this table this morning.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

That will be in the second half.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Then I apologize, because we really didn't get into that part of it. But it is a concern and I will raise it at a future time.

There are many things you've brought forward. I've briefly gone through the COMPAS report, and I think there are many things that need to be...because the industry has indeed changed in the direction I was alluding to. So I apologize, because I came here prepared to ask my first question to the other people, and I wasn't watching there.

I'm going to defer my time to the next speaker, and I will take it out on the next questioner.