Agriculture Committee on May 30th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Oh well, there we go. That's even better.

Mr. Boshcoff has the first hand in the air.

Now, do we want to shorten this to a three-minute round, folks? Are we okay with that, to get more people involved? Is everybody okay with that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

All right. Short preambles, not the Easter style. Short preambles, short questions, short answers, and we'll be good to go.

Mr. Boshcoff.

[Ken Boshcoff, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Your namesake, the CFIA, the coalition for integrity in agriculture, has made a presentation to the Prime Minister about their concerns about the unconfined release of plants for generic seeding, all those kinds of things, the safety measures for terminators, the lack of process involved in terms of trying to get public input in here in any kind of meaningful way. Do you have a response to them or have you prepared one for the Prime Minister?

[Suzanne Vinet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

I'm not aware of a response prepared for the Prime Minister's letter and I'm not aware of this particular letter, but there's been a lot of interaction with the department on that question. There is no marketing or anything of the GURT technology right now.

So I'd be happy to have a look at that particular letter. But I think you said it was addressed to the CFIA?

[Ken Boshcoff, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

No, it is the other CFIA, the coalition.

[Suzanne Vinet]

Oh, the other CFIA, got it. But we'll be happy to look at it.

[Ken Boshcoff, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Then, specific to the abattoir program and Canada's self-sufficiency in agriculture, there are projects all over the country, and my riding, the Rainy River district, has a proposal that feels that as they go through the process the rules are made for the big guys, the international corporations, as opposed to any kind of regional or local abattoir project. I'm wondering if the funding that has been made available to such proponents, if it's continuing, will continue, and if it can be made adaptable so that it's Canadian farmer friendly, as opposed to essentially bowing to the international corporate scene. I think you're familiar with those processes.

So it's when we talk about how we can help local and regional abattoir development and Canadian self-sufficiency for farm operations.

[Terry Hearn]

I'll pass this to Danny Foster to respond.

[Danny Foster, Director General, Business Risk Management Program Development, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

There were basically three programs put in place by the government to help with the issue of increased slaughter capacity in Canada. One was called the ruminant slaughter loan loss reserve program. That would help industries or entities seeking debt financing to access that through the financial institutions. That's still up and running.

The second one was the ruminant slaughter equity assistance program to help producers invest in ruminant slaughter facilities. There was $10 million allocated to that. That has been fully subscribed, so there's no further assistance available under that program.

The third program was a ruminant facility assessment assistance program to help people or projects that are interested in establishing ruminant slaughter facilities to undertake feasibility studies. Again, that one has been fully subscribed.

So the only existing program that's still up and running, in terms of having access to funds, is the ruminant loan loss reserve program, and it's still open for business. We have financial institutions signed up as part of that program, and we're operating accordingly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Thank you, Mr. Boshcoff.

Monsieur Bellavance, three minutes.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

I'll continue on the same subject. As I told the minister a little earlier, I made a tour and met with farmers last week. They reported problems concerning the Ruminant Slaughter Loan Loss Reserve Program.

I know that the Billette slaughterhouse has received a certain amount of money. As for the Colbex-Levinoff slaughterhouse, people wanted to buy it and were prepared to invest in the slaughterhouse before the program existed.

Is there any way to obtain retroactive assistance? Are there any terms that could be amended so there is a chance for producers who have joined forces to buy a slaughterhouse to receive money under the program? In addition, is any new money provided under this program to assist slaughterhouses that have received funding, but see growth potential and need more investment?

[Terry Hearn]

I'll let Danny Foster answer that question.

[Danny Foster]

Again, under the ruminate slaughter equity assistance program, it's been fully subscribed. I understand the situation you're talking about. There were entities that were looking for money in advance of program approval. There is no plan to go back and reopen the program and no plan in terms of retroactive enrolment for entities that were up and running before program approval.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

If I understand correctly, there's no openness on the department's part. There is no indication that it could be extended. We have no idea whether there's a chance of that. It's finished for good?

[Danny Foster]

Yes.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Is there anyone from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

You will have to do it in the next half hour.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

That's fine with me for the moment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Madame DeBellefeuille, do you have a short question for the officials?

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Agriculture is new to me, and I want to ask you a question. I don't know whether anyone can answer it. My question concerns the reassignment of Mirabel farm land. I don't know whether you're up on the issue. May I ask a question on the subject? Is there a speaker who can answer? Eleven thousand acres of land were expropriated to build Mirabel Airport. Are you up on the issue?

[Terry Hearn]

Unfortunately, no. I can take note of the question so that I can give you a better answer later.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

In fact, I wanted to see what the department's attitude was, if it was going to support the demands of farmers who want their lands back. Discussions are currently under way, and the town of Mirabel would perhaps like to get back certain lands. I wanted to see where the matter stood.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerry Ritz]

Mr. Hearn, will you take that question and get back to the committee with a response?

[Terry Hearn]

Yes, I have the question. We'll have to consult, potentially, with another department or so, but we will take the question.