Agriculture Committee on Oct. 31st, 2006

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

We have had some specific programming for grain producers, of course. We had the specific grains and oilseeds program this spring at $755 million. As for the Quebec portion, about 9,600 participants got about $39 million. That was a grain-specific program.

Of course, there is all the other programming that they can participate in, everything from marketing programs to environmental programs, and you name it. We have a lot of programming that can help farmers, and of course the CAIS programming is available to them as well.

But it's almost a case in point that as soon as you have a grains and oilseeds program specifically—and we targeted grains and oilseeds, including the folks in Quebec—someone else says that program didn't cover them. They want another program for whatever the commodity is, and it might be horticulture, it might be hogs, it might be anything. They want another program to match that one. Eventually you get every single commodity wanting a special program.

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Minister, the CAIS program is not working for Quebec grain producers. You can say that we have a program, but it's doing nothing for them. You're talking to me about the aggregate budget of the department. It is $920 million but Quebec is only getting 6% of the $920 million that AAC is investing in agriculture. We are only getting $50 million. You say that we have access to other programming but this is not entirely true. I don't think we have access to all the programs you're talking about. They do not have access to CAIS.

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Okay, I can try to get you some more specific figures. But the CAIS program will pay out approximately $232 million in Quebec this year, so there will be $232 million going through the CAIS program. Another $35 million will go through the re-evaluation of the inventory evaluation system as well. By the end of the year, the total of the grains and oilseeds should be another $46 million. That's over $300 million just through those three programs, so there is money going into Quebec.

Overall, since the agricultural policy framework began, on the BRM programming side alone, approximately 12% of the budget goes to Quebec. I can get more specific figures, perhaps, on the grains and oilseeds sector, but there are components of it that are paying out some money, at least.

The trouble is that there are always going to be producers who fall outside the framework, and that's always difficult, but we're trying to broaden that. That's why we've introduced all the changes we have, because we think overall we can make a margin-based program that will address at least more farmers' needs. But that's always a problem.

In my 13 years here, there's never been a program that always meets everyone's needs. You're always adjusting it. You're trying to find a way to do it. And I admit that's ongoing. I admit we're doing that all the time, trying to find better ways to meet farmers' needs.

But there's never a silver bullet. There's never a magic pill that will do everything. It just doesn't exist.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the support staff for joining us here today.

We have a couple of housekeeping items.

Minister, in your opening statement you talked about four or five reports that you could table with the committee. I heard some assent around the table for you to leave those with us or get them to us. I'll leave you that bit of homework. Thank you.

Gentlemen of the committee, we have a bit more work to do to finish off with the main estimates. There's some protocol we have to follow. If the committee wishes to report to the House, I have to ask, shall votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40, less the amounts granted in interim supply under Agriculture and Agri-Food of the main estimates 2005-06 carry?

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Can we move a motion to double it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Well, you can agree to it, negative it, or reduce the amounts. It doesn't say anything about doubling it.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

It's not enough money for farmers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Unfortunately, doubling it isn't in the cards.

AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD Department Vote 1--Agriculture and Agri-Food--Operating expenditures..........$583,866,000 Vote 5--Agriculture and Agri-Food--Capital expenditures..........$28,631,000 Vote 10--Agriculture and Agri-Food--Grants and contributions..........$448,930,000 Vote 15--Pursuant to section 29 of the Financial Administration Act, to authorize the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of Her Majesty in right of Canada, in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Minister of Finance, to guarantee payments of an amount not exceeding, at any one time, in aggregate the sum of $1,700,000,000 payable in respect of cash advances provided by producer organizations, the Canadian Wheat Board and other lenders under the Spring Credit Advance Program............... Vote 20--Pursuant to section 29 of the Financial Administration Act, to authorize the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of Her Majesty in right of Canada, in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Minister of Finance, to guarantee payments of amounts not exceeding, at any time in aggregate, the sum of $140,000,000 payable in respect of Line of Credit Agreements to be entered into by the Farm Credit Corporation for the purpose of the renewed (2003) National Biomass Ethanol Program............... Canadian Dairy Commission Vote 25--Program expenditures..........$3,513,000 Canadian Food Inspection Agency Vote 30--Operating expenditures and contributions..........$482,401,000 Vote 35--Capital expenditures..........$14,724,000 Canadian Grain commission Vote 40--Program expenditures..........$24,666,000

(Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 agreed to)

The meeting stands adjourned.