Evidence of meeting #34 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 emerson.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
The federal government is doing consultations on the APF, the next agriculture policy, and they've gone through one level of consulting with the farm organizations. They're now at the level of trying to consult with the producers on the ground. There's been some concern that there aren't enough meetings scheduled to meet directly with producers. There will be further consultations, and there's an online consultation opportunity as well. So the complaint has been that there haven't been enough producer meetings set up in enough locations so that producers are able to access that whole process. Is that fair?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Off the top of your head, do you know how many meetings are being held across the country?
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
I want to support this motion. And I just want to make the point as well that Ontario has about 60,000 farms, and the overwhelming majority of those farms are located west of Highway 400 in southwestern Ontario, and two meetings aren't enough. We need far more than just two meetings for that entire region, where the overwhelming majority of those 60,000 farms are located.
To get from northern Bruce County or Grey County to Woodstock takes close to two to two and a half hours and sometimes three hours. So I think it's reasonable to get a third meeting somewhere in that central part of the region, somewhere north of London and Woodstock, so that farmers don't have to drive as far. It's far and away the most important agricultural region in the province.
Liberal
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I agree with all the previous speakers. I believe when I first read the directive that came out about it explaining the process, it's somewhere between 12 or 14 across the country. It seems to me that this is hopelessly inadequate given the idea that the federations of agriculture between, let's say, the Manitoba border and Sudbury are essentially without representation. The drive covers a distance of about 18 hours if you don't stop, meaning that you've probably got an area twice the size of France, to give you some perspective on it. So they're feeling somewhat frustrated that they can't do the hands-on thing. I think we all agree, and it seems like there's a consensus already, Mr. Chair, that we need them more geographically suited to where there is agriculture and farming and agribusiness.
I'm going to propose one for somewhere in the northwest of Ontario between Winnipeg and Sudbury, and I believe both have meetings scheduled.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Can I speak to the amendment?
The way it's worded right now, it doesn't specifically list any location. I think we should keep it general that way, otherwise if we start listing locations, we're going to be here forever. The wording, including the friendly amendment from André, just says that we need more locations, period. It says, “including...such as Ontario and Quebec”. If we keep it general, then we don't hamstring anybody down the line who's going to actually source these locations.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Yes, I agree with the amendment, and I agree with Michael. I think it is a recommendation to the minister, and probably also to the parliamentary secretaries here, and I imagine you're hearing it in your area as well. I've heard a lot of dissatisfaction with the one location in the Maritimes. That one's over now, and I don't think there's any sense going back to it in that particular area. But there aren't enough locations.
I think this recommendation is just saying, with the amendment to it, that if the minister, and maybe David and a couple of others, could sit down and find more locations, maybe it will end up being two in Ontario and one in Quebec, and maybe even in B.C. I don't know, Alex.
The department, in its original first blush on this, laid out a series of consultations, and we do think they need to be added to, and I think we'd have confidence that you'd add to them in a more convenient location so that people could get out.
Conservative
Liberal
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
In accommodation to Ken and his northern Ontario concerns, if we were to name Quebec and northern Ontario along with northwestern Ontario, along with central Ontario, then we've basically covered all the bases, and that would come under one amendment, and it accommodates what Michael is trying to say.
To think that we would look at Sudbury and Toronto as centres where we would hold consultations on agriculture--this is not a reflection of anyone in this room, but it's certainly a reflection of the department. This has been going on for years and years and years, and I have some real concerns about it. I guess from that sense I think we need to speak to this to the point where we find accommodations for those who simply just wouldn't be there otherwise if it weren't for more accommodating places.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Are there any other comments before we ask the question?
Mr. Anderson.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I think it will probably be easier the fewer amendments we make, but if people want to keep adding their home location, that's up to them. I'll work on it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay. The clerk will read what we have here as the amended motion.
The Clerk
And I'm willing to take clarification. The motion reads:
That, the committee makes the recommendation that the Minister of Agriculture should add locations for the public consultations to be held on the Next Generation of Agriculture and Agri-food policy and that those locations be in more rural and accessible areas to the farming community, including central and northwestern Ontario and the Quebec City area.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
That brings the motions to a close.
I believe we should move in camera to discuss future business.
Mr. Easter.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
The motion I put forward is for 48 hours' notice, so it will be dealt with on Tuesday.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
It's just tabled. We'll deal with that on Tuesday of next week.
We will suspend the proceedings so we can clear the room.
[Proceedings continue in camera]