Evidence of meeting #41 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 federal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Anybody else?
Mr. Steckle is going to finish off Mr. Hubbard's round.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
I have a question that basically refers back to something you said early on, Mr. Brooks. You mentioned that the Americans believe--or there is that view--that Americans have a lesser risk to BSE than do Canadians. Is that risk of BSE real, or is it more that there's less of an admission, perhaps, that they have BSE in the United States?
I mean, Canada has been very transparent and honest. I commend all parties for the way we've handled our situation. But we have never been rewarded for what we've done. The Americans are not going down the road we're going down. We're going far out on a limb, as rightfully we should, but they're not following us. And yet they claim to have less than we do. I do not believe it, for one.
What is your position on that issue?
5:25 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Government of Saskatchewan
I should really defer that question to the federal experts on this, because that's their jurisdiction. But I certainly believe we are on par with the Americans—
5:25 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Government of Saskatchewan
—in terms of our systems. I do believe we have taken steps far in excess of what they've been prepared to do to date.
5:25 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Government of Saskatchewan
This is not a food safety issue we're talking about here today, though. I'd just like to reiterate that.
5:25 p.m.
Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Again, I'm sure most of the members around the table are aware of the reports in Dow Jones and others yesterday on what the OIE has pronounced on a preliminary basis, leading to adoption in May, with further steps to follow. The international panel of the most astute subject matter experts on BSE evaluation in fact did recommend that both Canada and the United States should be categorized as controlled risk countries, and that in effect there is no differentiation in status.
I believe the international markets have recognized that there are strengths in the Canadian circumstance that play well for Canada—our traceability systems, our investigative thoroughness, our investments in control, our transparency, our surveillance programming. These have all been given high kudos. The quality of our laboratory work and the competency of what we've done I believe form the foundation of why we're in the position we are with that, and I believe the international community will reward us accordingly.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I have just one more short question: do we have a plan? If we find our industry is not competitive with the United States, do we have a plan in place for provincial governments? Does the federal government have a plan to deal with that situation?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, Operations, Market and Industry Services Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
The federal government has a value-chain round table that includes all members of the beef value chain, from the feed industry right through to the wholesalers and retailers. That value chain is actually industry's opportunity to talk to themselves. Provinces participate as well. They are undertaking a competitiveness council, as it were, to take a look at all of the competitiveness issues facing the beef industry. One of your witnesses from several weeks ago on the SRM issue, Dennis Laycraft, is chair of that group.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I want to thank all of our witnesses for appearing today. The testimony was definitely worthwhile. I think we had a very good discussion.
I just want to draw to everybody's attention that we have an MLA from Alberta who was watching the hearings today, Mr. Len Mitzel. Welcome to our committee meeting.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Chair, we're supposed to make sure...we want the breakdown they offered of the $80 million.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Yes, definitely. Ms. Miller, you did mention that you have that in writing, and we do want to make sure it is tabled. If you can turn it in to the clerk at your earliest possible convenience, we'd really appreciate it.
I am a cattle producer myself, and with all this dead animal removal and cleanup out in the countryside, the coyotes out our way are a lot thinner. I'm sure Dr. Preston notices that too, since he's a cattle producer as well.
Thank you all very much.
We're going to adjourn and go to votes.