Evidence of meeting #31 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was quebec.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Mark Bannister  Vice-Chair, Tobacco Farmers In Crisis
Brian Edwards  President, Tobacco Farmers In Crisis
Fred Neukamm  Chair, Ontario Tobacco Board
Richard Van Maele  Vice Chair, Ontario Tobacco Board
Christian Boisjoly  Director, Office des producteurs de tabac jaune du Québec
Luc Hervieux  Vice-President, Office des producteurs de tabac jaune du Québec
James Rickard  Chair, Ontario Apple Growers
Brian Gilroy  Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

1:25 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

What I think Mr. Atamanenko was talking about is a better dispute mechanism situation with better triggers. Right now the onus is on the majority of the producers in the country to come forward with the action before the government comes on board. Until you act, we can't--that type of thing.

One other point that I wanted to make here is that we have the PMRA--and I know you guys say that and spit, the same as we do on certain days--coming before this committee. Would you guys like to put forward a little bit of a brief that we can use when we're doing up that report?

I know there are some concerns that you don't have access to front-line fungicides, pesticides, and insecticides the same way that, say, Washington State does, at the same kind of costing. If you wanted to give us a brief or some information to that extent, we'd certainly make use of it at that meeting.

I think the meeting is taking place on December 12. We've had a bit of a change, because they're at a meeting in Quebec. They were slated for December 7, but now it's December 12.

If you could get us something that we could use at that meeting, if you're so inclined, that would be very helpful.

1:25 p.m.

Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

Brian Gilroy

I can give you one quick thing that I just read about on the way down here. Guthion is one of those old standby materials that have been used for some time. It's an insecticide, and because it was being reviewed in the United States, PMRA reviewed it. The Americans had decided on a cease and desist use plan for Guthion and implemented it, sort of. Then PMRA followed, and we lose the use of this material a year from now, I believe. The Americans have just announced that they're putting off their cease and desist order, and it could be 2012 before it's removed, if at all. That has been a material that we've used sparingly but has been one of those materials that we found very useful.

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

A cease and desist does not take into account a new or better product that will take the place....

1:30 p.m.

Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

Good. That's the type of thing we're looking for that we can make use of in a report on that. So thank you, gentlemen.

Is there anyone with further points? We've run out of time as we get ready for question period here.

I want to thank you guys for making that extra effort.

Mr. Rickard, you had a point.

1:30 p.m.

Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

James Rickard

I have a question about sending the amount of research. Who do we send that information to?

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

Send it to the clerk of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. He will translate it, disperse it, and all those good things.

So thanks for making that extra effort to get here today. It was wonderful to have you. We look forward to seeing you again.

1:30 p.m.

Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

Brian Gilroy

Is it all right if I leave copies of the case for a national replant strategy—

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

By all means.

1:30 p.m.

Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

Brian Gilroy

—or should I collect names of people who would like them?

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

No, you could leave them, and whoever would like to take one—

1:30 p.m.

Vice-Chair, Ontario Apple Growers

Brian Gilroy

I'll leave them back by the apples.

1:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz

Excellent. Leave them back by the apples. Thank you so much.

Is there anything else, gentlemen? That's it?

This meeting stands adjourned.