Agriculture Committee on Feb. 25th, 2008

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Chair, I want to disagree very strongly with what the parliamentary secretary said. This bill does not cover everything within the report of this committee, and that's a matter for discussion on another day. But as for making the statement that the minister is doing great and wonderful things, the fact of the matter is....

And, Mr. Parliamentary Secretary, I believe on January 29 you said something along the lines that the money is flowing to the beef and hog sectors as we speak. It's clear by the meat of this legislation that the money wasn't flowing. We've now lost five or six months. If you think that's performance on the part of the government, I certainly don't. We'll be talking about that when we deal with the bill at 10 o'clock tonight.

We want to do what we can for producers. But here we are with a bill in the House tonight and we're getting a briefing on the bill tomorrow. Where has the government been for the last five or six months? And where have you been, Mr. Parliamentary Secretary, in terms of some of your responses in the House that money is flowing? It hasn't been.

Mr. Chair, I support the motion, and I want it to go forward.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, Mr. Easter may not be happy with the amount of money that's flowed or whatever, but the money has been flowing. Lots of individuals have contacted me. Some are happy; some aren't so happy. But to say that the money isn't flowing is just not true, and I think that needs to be pointed out.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Unless I get a debate on that particular item, we have a motion on the table asking for a letter from the committee to go to the minister. It's just a matter of reinforcing our comments.

Mr. Bellavance.

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

I would request a recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

You have asked for a recorded vote. It shall be.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We have a second motion by Mr. Miller.

Mr. Miller, do you want to move it on the floor?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Yes, I'll move that, Mr. Chairman, and I'll speak briefly to it whenever it's appropriate.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Right now.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I think this is fairly self-explanatory.

There have been a number of concerns raised to me and, I'm sure, to other members of committee about the Americans' proposal to COOL, country of origin labelling, as it's known in their Farm Bill. I think this spells out that Canada basically puts the power, and especially has the support of this committee, to enact measures to deal with that, should that be the case. I think that's all that needs to be said.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Mr. Atamanenko.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Larry, I think I understand what you're saying. I'm just not sure how clear it is to say that if it's not achieved in the U.S. Farm Bill, “Canada will consider the necessary measures to achieve compliance”. I'm not sure exactly what you're saying here. Could you explain?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Should what they're doing prove to be in contravention of NAFTA or the WTO, it's basically putting the Americans on notice. That's the way I see it.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

I think what you're suggesting is that they can request panels under NAFTA or WTO to take it up.

Mr. Steckle, and then Mr. Bellavance.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I know what you want to do, Larry, and I support the intent, but I think you'd be about as effective as trying to change the date of the next lunar eclipse.

I mean, we know what happened with beef imports and exports. We know what happened with all the kinds of things they want to do. They do what they want to do. We already have in place.... And if there should be a challenge, it will go before an international panel, regardless. We're not going to change the way they do COOL, regardless of how many letters we send or to whom we send them.

While I want to be supportive, I know where this is going to go: this is going to go in file 13. They couldn't give one continental about us. They will do exactly what they want to do. I think you'd probably change the date of the lunar eclipse about as easily as you'd change this.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

My only comment is that I've never, ever gotten anything done by not trying. But your point is well taken.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

If you'll recall, when we were down there as a committee we met with Collin Peterson, chair of the House Committee on Agriculture. We had already taken some trade action with them on their U.S. Farm Bill--basis corn--and he made the comment, “We hear you, we know what you guys are saying.” So it's not bad to send a message.

Mr. Bellavance.

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

James, without wanting to take anything away from you as chairman of the committee, I have a question. Perhaps the clerk can provide some clarification. In the second paragraph, it says that you, the chairman of the committee, will inform the Americans if they are not doing what they are being asked to do. It says: “[...] Canada will consider the necessary measures to achieve compliance.” So it is the chairman of our committee who will inform a country like the United States that Canada, as a country, will take some kind of measure.

Do you have the authority to do that? Do you speak on behalf of Canada? I would understand the minister doing that, but I wonder if you can do that as chairman of the committee. This is a technicality, but it is important to clarify it before writing the letter.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

The translation is correct to the English version, right?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

The motion is saying that the chair--

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We're asking the ministers of agriculture and trade to write those letters on behalf of Parliament. So Minister Ritz and Minister Emerson would send a letter. It wouldn't be coming from us as a committee; we'd be requesting them to write that letter to the executive branch.

Mr. Atamanenko.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I just want to back up what Larry was saying about doing anything we can. You don't win a lottery if you don't buy a ticket, right?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

That's why I never win.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Are there any other questions or comments?

I will call the question.

Mr. Miller is asking for a recorded vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

There being no other business, we're going to adjourn. See you guys tomorrow--