Evidence of meeting #64 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was farm.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Noon
Farmer, As an Individual
I don't think it's accurate to pull something out of context and try to read something into it.
Noon
Conservative
Noon
Farmer, As an Individual
I'd be much more comfortable with taking time to have the entire speech read into the record.
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
I only have a limited amount of time. Sorry to interrupt. Are you saying that comment is inaccurate, then, and that you did not make that comment?
Noon
Farmer, As an Individual
I'm not saying it was inaccurate. I'm saying that it may be taken out of context because I don't know where you are going with—
Noon
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
No problem. That was the comment that I understood you made. I certainly would hope it's not correct, because it's unfortunate you would feel that way about the opportunity for people to market freely.
Mr. Robson, you are currently a director of the National Farmers Union. Is that correct? Yes or no.
12:05 p.m.
Farmer, As an Individual
If you were looking on the National Farmers Union website, you would see that. Your next question is if am I here as a farmer. Yes—
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Are you a director of the National Farmers Union, Mr. Robson? Is that correct? Yes or no.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
So you are not representing the National Farmers Union here today. You are representing yourself as an individual?
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Why did you choose to represent yourself as an individual rather than the organization that you are a director of?
12:05 p.m.
Farmer, As an Individual
When the clerk contacted me, I was asked to speak as an individual. This is what I am doing. I assume that you want to know about the farm conditions, and I do—
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Sorry, sir, I only have a very limited amount of time. I have to stop you there.
I have one more question I would like to ask you. Last February, in a publication called The Militant, which identifies itself as “a socialist newspaper”, you were discussing our legislation to create marketing freedom for western Canadian grain farmers. You referred to that legislation as “jackboot” legislation. Is that an accurate comment? Yes or no, please.
12:05 p.m.
Farmer, As an Individual
That word was suggested to me by the writer, and I did not disagree with the writer's assessment. You could say by inference that—
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Thank you, sir. I think we have made it very clear where you are coming from. I appreciate that.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm just going to call for order here for a minute.
For our witnesses, everybody has a very limited time. They all have a lot to say, so I apologize if I interrupt from time to time. Please continue, and let's have one person speak at a time.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I only have a limited amount of time, so I hate to interrupt.
12:05 p.m.
Farmer, As an Individual
I'd like to answer some questions about the farm supply chain.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I had asked for individuals to speak one at a time. I have recognized Mr. Richards.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have some questions for you as well, Mr. Rosaasen. I'd like to talk to you a little bit about interprovincial trade barriers. I'm assuming that you, as a professor and as an agricultural economist, have probably done some work studying the impact of interprovincial trade barriers. Would that be true?
12:05 p.m.
Prof. Kenneth A. Rosaasen
It hasn't been a focus of what I do.