Agriculture Committee on Oct. 19th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Monsieur Gourde, one last point.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

For the government, going there would be a strong symbolic gesture. It would be a way to demonstrate that our government is aware of the situation. That's why I think it's very important for us to go there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

The question will be called on the motion as it stands. I'll read the motion into the record so that....

You have a point of order, Monsieur Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I would have liked to amend the motion to read as follows: "That, in light of the urgency of the situation for farmers and other host crops affected by that potato cyst nematode in the Saint-Amable area in Quebec, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food travel to Saint-Amable to hold a meeting on site".

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

We have an amendment to the motion. I'll call the amendment and we'll vote on that.

Monsieur Gourde, we didn't get all of that down.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I have moved that the committee go to Saint-Amable and hold a meeting on site.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

So rather than hear evidence and so on, you would go to Saint-Amable and....

Mr. Miller.

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

I have a point about the “instead of” part. To me, you're meeting with them--

[An hon. member]

Here or there.

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

Yes, here or there; the location is the thing.

It's not that you're going to go there and not meet with them. I think you can have the meeting with them here and not see anything of what they're going through, or you can have the meeting there, on-site, and see what they're going through.

I just wanted to clarify that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you.

Monsieur Thibault.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I will vote against the amendment but not because I'm opposed to the principle. Indeed, I believe that going to the region to visit those farmers and learn other things about the region at the same time would be a good idea. The problem is that we have other work to do here. We have meetings that are planned and we have work to do afterwards. Those are long days and it would be difficult to reserve a full day to travel there.

If those farmers had asked us to go there, my reaction would be different but they know the kind of schedule we have and they accept that situation. That's why they've asked us to meet with them here. If, when they're here, they invite us to go to their region, we would take that into consideration.

Mr. Bellavance alluded to the disaster that happened when we tried to travel in the past. I was responsible: I had not recognized that all the members of the committee had to leave at the same time and that it would have changed the balance of the parties in the House of Commons. Now, I understand this issue and, at the same time, I see how difficult it would be.

So, I will vote against the amendment but for the main motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

All right, we haven't called the vote yet, Mr. Thibault.

We'll have Mr. Atamanenko, and then I'll go to--

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Can we read the motion before we discuss it here?

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

That was my question. We're now discussing the amendment, and I'd like to hear the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

All right. The amendment is on the floor. We will read it, and then we will call the question on the amendment. Okay?

Go ahead.

[The Clerk of the Committee]

I'm going to read it.

That, in light of the urgency of the situation for farmers of potatoes and other host crops affected by the potato cyst nematode in the Saint-Amable area in Quebec, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food travel to the Saint-Amable region to hold a meeting on site.

Was that your motion, Mr. Gourde?

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I would hold the committee meeting there.

[The Clerk]

That's what it stays at the end: " to hold a meeting on site".

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Is everybody clear on that?

Do you have a point of order, André? No? You're ready to vote.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

I want to talk about the amendment.

As I said earlier, I'm in favor of the committee traveling there to meet with them. I agree with Mr. Gourde that we owe it to them to go and see their farms, but I also believe that they deserve a positive answer to their request that we take cognizance of their situation. They're asking us to act urgently. They would appear before the committee and explain their situation.

We should also take account of the schedule. We've just passed a motion stating that we're to meet on October 24, 25 and 26 about the Canadian Wheat Board. Mr. Easter has agreed, as we have on the opposition side, to reserve one hour to hear those potato producers.

It should be understood that, if the committee travels at that time, anywhere in Canada, we won't be able to talk about the Canadian Wheat Board. There is a problem of logistics but it could be easy resolved if we decided to set aside one hour next week to hear the potato producers of Saint-Amable.

I would add an amendment to the amendment, as it were. I would move that we meet here with the potato producers of Saint-Amable and that, during a future meeting, the committee travel to the region In order to visit some of the farms. I would have no objection to that. As a matter of fact, it would be an excellent idea.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

We'll have Mr. Gourde and then Mr. Atamanenko.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

To conclude and to answer Mr. Thibault, I will say that it's very important for us to try to go to the area. In fact, all farmers work for the benefit of the people. In such an urgent situation, we owe it to them to leave Ottawa and to go and meet with them locally. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Just as a point of clarification, are you moving a subamendment at this point, André?

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Yes.