Evidence of meeting #5 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 program.
11:10 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
If the amendment on the motion doesn't pass, we still have a chance to vote for this.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Right. Yes, we go back to plan B. Plan A, and then plan B.
Mr. Easter, you have some amendments.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Chair, I believe the amendments clean it up and make it a little more specific. The fact of the matter is that the government did make a decision to renege on an agreement in principle between the FRCC and the government on the...[Technical difficulty--Editor].
It should be pointed out that this is not a new issue. There was an agreement signed by the previous government with the FRCC. The fact of the matter is that the government reneged on that agreement, although I do understand on the new agreement that the FRCC could be on side if specific conditions are met. Those specific conditions are outlined in (a), (b), and (c) of the amended motion. So I think it makes the motion more specific to the point, clarifies what FRCC is actually asking for, and holds the government more so to account.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
No, I don't have any amendments.
To your point about an agreement in principle, it had actually been signed off by cabinet but it had not gone through PCO, so technically there was no agreement that was binding on anybody in the future, not even a Liberal government if they were re-elected.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I guess that's the difference between this government and the last. When cabinet made decisions, we felt they'd be abided by, not overruled by the bureaucracy.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
There was a protocol, and PCO does have to sign off on it. Since there was no sign-off by PCO before the government fell, there's no agreement to be held to. So let's clarify that.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Then we may have a problem. Mr. Easter does not have his amendments in both official languages. Would you accept--
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Let me just read into the record, then, what the amendment would consist of, and I'll read it slowly. The amendment would read:
That in view of the federal government's decision to renege on the agreement in principle between itself and the Farmer Rail Car Coalition that
--and the rest of it remains the same--
the Standing Committee on Agriculture call upon the federal government to retain ownership of the hopper car fleet and commit to the following:
(a) The revenue cap is reduced to reflect the actual maintenance costs estimated by the Canadian Transportation Agency to be for the sample year 2004, $1,686 rather than the $4,329 per car, per year.
(b) That the federal government rail hopper cars be modernized and ultimately replaced as soon as possible, and that the costs of replacement be borne by the federal government.
(c) That the federal government provide assurances that the assets are properly managed on behalf of the farmers.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
The amendments are on the table. Is there an agreement to...? Does anyone want to speak to those amendments or shall we vote on them?
Mr. Anderson.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I'd like to speak to them. We were prepared, actually, to go along with the original motion. We're definitely not going to be supporting this one. So it's up to--
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
That's fine.
Shall we call the vote on the amendments? I call the question on the amendment, on Mr. Easter's amendments.
(Amendment agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
We're down to the main motion as amended. Is there any discussion?
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Be polite! You should have talked to us about it beforehand.
You should talk to us beforehand. Don't treat us like children or something like that. I don't like it.
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
You should have talked to us about it beforehand.
You should talk to us beforehand, that's all.
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Point taken.
We are now discussing the main motion as amended, since the amendment's passed. Is there any discussion? I call the question.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
11:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
So we will make this as a report to the House. The clerk will write that up, bring it back to the committee as quickly as we can, and then we'll table it.
Thank you.