Evidence of meeting #16 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was producers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
November 13 would probably be okay from my perspective. We're not here that week.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
I'm also wondering if you want something sooner, Mr. Easter. Would a written submission, an affidavit, suffice?
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Third, we have a notice of motion from Mr. Atamanenko. You have three on the paper; it's number one.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
If we could do two today, that would be good. Do you want me to speak to them?
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I want to know where all three of them are. I was told only the first one had been brought forward.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
No, they were tabled as a trio, all on the same sheet at the same time, and 48 hours' notice was given. It's up to Mr. Atamanenko to pull them forward after that 48 hours. That's what he's doing today, exercising that option.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
This ties in with our look at long-term policy. The first one is that this group exists, and it would be a good idea to have them come and briefly explain who they are and what they're doing, and how this fits into our structuring of the long-term policy. That could be some time in November.
Do you want me to comment on the second one?
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Let's do them one at a time. They are votable motions.
The motion is before you. Is there any debate on the motion? Mr. Atamanenko was saying somewhere during our November meetings.
Mr. Anderson.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Normally these would be forwarded as suggestions to the steering committee, subcommittee, whatever. It doesn't matter to me if we deal with them, but do you want all of us to start bringing forward motions on each of the things we want to deal with? We had planning meetings. We set up our schedule. I'm certainly open to bringing anybody in to those meetings, but I don't know we need to have motions on each of the individual groups we're bringing to meetings, unless you want us all to bring that forward that way. I'm not against number one, but I think it would be better served to suggest it to the steering committee.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Or as an opportunity for a witness list, someone representing that group.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Okay, that's your submission.
Is there any further discussion? Mr. Atamanenko.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I can agree with David, as long as we can get these people here to talk a little bit about what's going on. That will serve the purpose, if you feel this is the best way to go. It doesn't matter which way we do it, as long as it happens.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Would you be satisfied with a representation from that group talking about the future of farming at one of our November meetings? You'd be happy with that?
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Okay. That's a substantive change to your motion, saying we'll accept a representation of that.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
We would be willing to try to accommodate that, if that's how you want to proceed.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Does anyone have a problem with that? As long as you're agreeable to that, we'll have the clerk invite someone representing that stakeholders' group to one of our meetings in November, which we'll plan.
To facilitate doing it that way, you would have to withdraw this motion, Alex, and then we'll proceed with bringing in representation.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Thank you, sir.
You said you wanted to speak to the second motion as well.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Yes, the second motion also fits in with our long-term policy. We've built in witness groups in November, but I'd like to make it a little more precise. I'd like to have the groups specifically representing producers from all the different areas to talk about what they feel are the causes of the problems and offer some solutions. It could be in the same meeting. They could be briefed ahead of time to come in with some causes and solutions, but we should hear from the stakeholders as we go through this process of developing long-term policy. That's why I wanted to introduce this motion. I'm prepared to modify the motion a bit to reflect what I've just said.