Evidence of meeting #26 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was consumers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
There are different systems that exist for cage-free housing—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Let me phrase it another way. You would like to eliminate cages in every layer barn from coast to coast?
4:30 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
Yes, absolutely. If I can finish, the photo that I showed was just a system that exists on one level. There are also aviary barns that have several levels. Those two systems are both the typical cage-free production systems, and yes, what we advocate for is cage-free systems in an indoor barn environment.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
What is the estimated cost to convert the layer barns in Canada over to yours?
4:30 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
I think that would be a great study for the commission to do.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Your group actually hasn't done a study on what that cost would be?
4:30 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
There is a study that I know is being peer reviewed at the moment, coming out of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, which is looking at the cost of transition to cage-free housing as well as the overall differences in cost in production between systems.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
So under your ultimate vision there would be this conversion. Who would pay for that?
4:35 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
You can look at examples around the world. There are different models that have been used, in the European Union, for example.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Well, there are only three people who are going to pay for it: the government, the farmer, or the consumer. Which of the three is going to pay for it?
4:35 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
As I was saying, it depends, and I think an investment from Growing Forward 2 in transitional funds would definitely be a viable option.
Obviously battery cages are now outlawed in all 27 states of the European Union, and that directive was passed in 1999. That gave producers more than 12 years to make that transition. With the legislation that has been proposed in the United States, it would be a joint investment from individual producers and the producers' association of $4 billion, I believe, over the transition period to make the changes.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Your presentation indicated to me that it was consumer-driven. The consumer wants this, right? The consumer wants this really badly.
I've never had anybody come into my office in three and a half years and even bring this up. Your group was the first one that ever brought it up.
Don't you think the consumer should pay for it, if that's what they want? Wouldn't the consumer pay for it?
4:35 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
Well, if all egg production systems were to transition to cage-free housing, then there would probably be a slight increase in the cost of eggs, which would go directly to the producers.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Thank you, Mr. Lobb.
I'd like a clarification, Ms. Thurston. In responding to Mr. Lobb's question you mentioned Growing Forward 2. I think I heard you right, but you were implying that there should be money in Growing Forward 2 to convert barns from laying cages to free range or whatever.
Was I understanding you correctly?
4:35 p.m.
Campaigner, Humane Society International/Canada
I think if the federal government were to legislate a phase-out date for cage-free eggs, then transitional funds would be something that should be looked into.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, it would probably be in the order of the high hundreds of millions of dollars, if not a billion dollars, for that.
We all know what the average value is of Growing Forward, so we should make sure that we—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I just wanted to be clear that I understood what you were saying.
Ms. Raynault, five minutes.
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Francine Raynault NDP Joliette, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Cran, in the last few years, fast-food chains have launched publicity campaigns based on the taste of their food. After the listeriosis outbreak and mad cow disease, people became worried. They wanted to know what they were eating and they wanted confirmation that the food they were eating was safe.
Do you believe that this marketing strategy is a way to address the concerns and expectations of consumers, and to reassure them that the food they are eating is safe, including eggs and milk?
4:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Labour and Supply, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
Certainly. Food safety is an important priority for our industry. The safety of our clients is paramount for us. We are working with producer groups to make sure that adequate measures are implemented to ensure that the meat bought by consumers is safe and of superior quality. We are also working with producer associations and a group comprised of stakeholders interested in food safety—be they buyers or consumers—to set standards. It's not just the marketing operation. We really care about this issue.
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Francine Raynault NDP Joliette, QC
Generally speaking, what recommendations would you make for Growing Forward 2, which deals specifically with demands by consumers?
4:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Labour and Supply, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
In the area of food safety?
4:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Labour and Supply, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
Within the current system, the National Farm Animal Care Council makes sure that there are standards. Further, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency plays a very important role. However, I must admit that our association is worried. There will be budget cutbacks. Groups subsidized by the government, and the people who inspect food processing plans, will have to work under pressure and deal with budget cutbacks. This is why we are concerned. We really want to make sure that the mechanisms that ensure that the food bought and sold in our restaurants is safe and of good quality are still being applied.
4:40 p.m.
NDP
Francine Raynault NDP Joliette, QC
Absolutely. We want the same kind of assurance, whether it be for beef or even pork coming in from the United States. Here, in Quebec, we produce a lot of pork. In fact, we produce more than we can eat. We don't want there to be any type of disease. We do not want to become sick because animals are being more or less well fed, or at least not the way consumers would want them to be fed.
We also know that whatever products Canada exports are inspected very closely. However, regarding products arriving from China, for example, only about 2% are truly inspected, which is not very reassuring. Could one of you address this concern? This is just an observation on my part. One thing is sure, when you realize this, you wonder what is going on.
I was a farmer in a previous life, so I know that raising animals out in the open is always better than doing so in cages. I know of a major egg producer in my region of Joliette, which I represent as a member of Parliament. Successive generations of that family—father to son, there were many sons in the family—raised laying hens in cages. Members of the third or fourth generation, who are currently running the business, now allow the hens to roam free outside in summer. This probably cost a small fortune. I don't know where they found the financing. Nevertheless, the fact remains that today their eggs are even designated as being organic. We certainly hope that it will work out for them.
My question is for Ms. Moore or Mr. Taylor. Have consumers complained to your members about the quality of food?