Evidence of meeting #32 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 seeds.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:50 p.m.
Director, Board of Directors of The Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Wheat Board
It's because it's a provincial jurisdiction, a provincial plebiscite in federal jurisdiction.
1:50 p.m.
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
Oh, that's the difference. Thank you.
I'm sure you remember that they almost had a malt plant in Camrose, the one that ended up Great Falls, Montana. I watch barley go by my door now. It's probably your barley going down to Great Falls, Montana.
Were there lost opportunities, Mr. Motiuk?
1:55 p.m.
Director, Board of Directors of The Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Wheat Board
Every time we export something and don't process it, be it any kind of raw resource, and when an institution makes it difficult to process a resource in Canada, it's a loss to the Canadian economy. It's a global statement.
1:55 p.m.
Director, Board of Directors of The Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Wheat Board
It's jobs and prosperity--although in Alberta right now, we can't find enough people to keep the yellow iron going.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I have a motion, Mr. Chair, that we as a committee, under our right through Standing Orders 110 and 111, examine the order in council appointees.
I feel that the order in council appointee, Bruce Johnson, has failed to respond to the concerns of the committee with respect to demonstrating the necessary qualifications to fulfill the requirements expected of an appointee to the board of directors, namely to act in the best interests of the Wheat Board.
During questioning, I outlined the concerns over the experience with the Wheat Board and FarmGro Organic Foods, as well as the fact that there wasn't a personal discussion with the minister relative to those qualifications. I don't expect a minister to get his information from the press, as was indicated.
For those reasons, I so move this committee recommend that Mr. Johnson is not qualified for the job.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Isn't he required to provide proper notification on submission of the motion in both official languages?
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ted Menzies Conservative Macleod, AB
I must have been at a different meeting, because that isn't what I heard. I would voice a strong objection. I think it's based on an ideological difference with the witness, and I don't think it has any place at this committee table.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Chair, I'm sure the minister did due diligence in making his selections for appointees. I think it's presumptuous of Mr. Easter to bring forward this motion. I believe the testimony we heard today shows that both of these gentlemen are very qualified to be directors.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Mr. Easter has tabled the motion, which is his right under Standing Orders 110 and 111. It will be translated.
Does it have to be translated to be presented?
December 7th, 2006 / 1:55 p.m.
Richard Rumas Procedural Clerk
No, you can move a motion on the floor, as long as it deals with business.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
I understand that.
Do you want us to present it to the House or do you only want it sent to the minister?
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
All right. It doesn't need translation. We'll have the clerk type it up, so we can read it, and we'll then submit it to the minister.
Do you want it reported to the House? That's the point I'm trying to get at, Mr. Easter.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Then we will need it in both official languages. I'll leave it with the clerk to have that done. We then have five sitting days in order to make it happen.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
We will. I'm only getting it down that this is what we want.
Shall I call the question on the motion? Does everybody understand what's before us?
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
As a final point, Mr. Menzies, if it was ideologically driven on my part, then I would certainly be putting Ken's name on the list as well.
I went through the evidence in terms of what was previously reported, relative to Mr. Johnson, from the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and from FarmGro Organic Foods. It's that experience I'm dealing with. Otherwise, if it was ideologically driven, I would have put both forward, but I'm not doing that.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
The time for Mr. Motiuk has passed. It couldn't happen anyway, Mr. Easter. Thank you for raising it.
We will have it translated, and so on.
That's it, gentlemen. Is there anything else at this point?
