Agriculture committee  Yes, and when we talk about the SSGs, to make it operational, it's under the Minister of Finance. So that's where....

Agriculture committee  To your first question, I think we need to make this SSG, special safeguard, operational. Last year we had our first experience with more eggs coming into Canada, and I don't think we have to wait until we get a crisis to make it operational, because I don't think you can make th

Agriculture committee  I think that what happened last year and the year before was the low American prices, and with the low American prices and the appreciation of the dollar, there was enough room there for them to import eggs, pay the over-quota tariff, and still make money on them.

Agriculture committee  I can answer for the egg industry. As far as the egg industry is concerned, it's the special safeguard that we would like to see the government make operational. Right now, they're not. It's a right that we achieved at the negotiations, and as I mentioned in my presentation, it's

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Laurent Souligny. I'm chairman of the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, and I'm also an egg producer and a grain and oilseed producer. First of all, I would like to thank you for making the change in your agenda to give us the opportunity to m

Agriculture committee  We have already looked at this. However, it can take up to 18 months before an affected producer is able to put hens back in the poultry barn. That's a solution that would work better with meat-producing chickens because the wait period is shorter.

Agriculture committee  Our agency is currently promoting biosafety on the farm. Our producers are evaluated using a national agency program called HACCP. The majority of our producers benefit from this program, which was set up to prevent and stop the spread of Avian influenza.

Agriculture committee  Following conversations and meetings that we have had with various stakeholders, including the Minister of Agriculture, among others, we have received unequivocal assurance of their support for supply management. A motion to that effect was also unanimously adopted in the House.

Agriculture committee  The current national average is about 22,000 laying hens for each laying house.

Agriculture committee  Contamination can occur through contact with an animal or person.

Agriculture committee  Yes. That is why we worked with the federal government to establish some restriction standards. We do not let just anyone into our chicken barns, because there is always a danger that the person may be contaminated. There are trucks that come to deliver the food, and people who c

Agriculture committee  In a severe case of Avian flu, he might notice in less than 12 hours. It can happen quickly. I don't need to repeat how quickly contamination in British Columbia took place.

Agriculture committee  In an extreme case, such as the one that occurred in British Columbia, it can take up to 18 months because you can't put all the hens in the poultry barn at the same time. You can only produce at certain times during the year in order to supply the market. It takes six months fro

Agriculture committee  Eight dollars is a maximum amount. That amount may vary depending on the hen's stage of production. The revenue generated by a laying hen comes from the eggs it lays. We derive our revenues from the eggs.

Agriculture committee  Currently it does not.