Evidence of meeting #23 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cattle.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Senior Deputy Commissioner, Mergers Branch, Competition Bureau
I want to react to that if I can.
Talking about late-night thoughts, I was having this conversation with my wife last night, and she was telling me that the yard was a mess--
12:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
12:40 p.m.
Senior Deputy Commissioner, Mergers Branch, Competition Bureau
She said, “The yard's a mess, the lawn furniture's not put together”, and I said to her, “You know, I do a lot of things around here that just seem to go unrecognized.” I might get a similar reaction from this committee as I did from her last night. But I can point to several examples where the bureau has taken action to protect or promote competition in the agricultural industry or otherwise benefit Canadian farmers and other participants in the sector.
I think it's important for me to put that on the table, so you're not left with this impression that there's been ineffective enforcement in the area. For example, in a mergers context, we engaged in significant litigation and devoted significant resources to secure a series of remedies that were to maintain and promote competition in the grain handling industry in western Canada. That included the divestiture of a grain handling terminal in the port of Vancouver and 17 inland grain elevators in order to protect competition for western Canadian farmers.
In the criminal context, we've taken action to stop price fixing on important inputs into agriculture operations like chemicals that are used in animal feed. So I think we're happy to talk about ways in which we can improve enforcement, and we're very open to having those kinds of discussions. But I want to make sure that you understand our perspective, that there are a lot of steps being taken by the Competition Bureau in order to protect and promote competition in the agriculture sector. There are a lot of tools that exist under the act that we use as part of our day-to-day enforcement activities.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Before I go to Mr. Valeriote, I just want to be clear. I don't want--what would you call it?--philosophical ideas, yours or anybody else's in the Competition Bureau, to get in the way here. I would still like you to come forth with recommendations for us, as I said, in the next week or 10 days, if possible, so we can include them in our report as to how we can deal with some of the legislative things that address things. Then we can discuss as a committee how we want to accept or pass it on, or whatever.
Mr. Valeriote.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
What I'm hearing Chair Miller say is not about changes to improve enforcement. I think he's talking about broadening your powers and your authority to deal with the issues that he's talking about, that everybody has raised.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
That's exactly right, Mr. Valeriote.
Okay. We've extended this beyond the time, but I think it's been very, very fruitful. I want to thank all of you for coming here today, and we look forward to receiving more information.
12:40 p.m.
Senior Deputy Commissioner, Mergers Branch, Competition Bureau
Thank you for this opportunity. We appreciate it.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
It was great to have you.
We'll suspend for a few minutes until DFAIT officials--
12:40 p.m.
An hon. member
Suspend or adjourn?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
We have a little change in plans. I didn't think of this before. The briefing we're about to receive is in connection with our trip to Washington from June 3 to June 5, next Wednesday to Friday. We have to go in camera, and it will be just for the members of the committee.
I apologize for that.
[Proceedings continue in camera]