Evidence of meeting #30 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was product.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
I only want to say that we don't have a problem with this. Mr. White was recommended by the Canadian Wheat Board's board of directors, and we would be pleased to have him come when it's convenient for the committee.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
A clarification, Mr. Easter. Do you want him here to discuss his credentials?
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Yes. If you remember, Larry, the Prime Minister, when he was running in the campaign, said there would be a process whereby appointments could be vetted before they were made. He has now broken his word in that regard, when the first appointment he tried to make was rejected by a committee.
We, as committees, have a right to review order in council appointments, as we did with Mr. Hermanson. In fact, this committee made a recommendation that Mr. Hermanson not be appointed.
We wanted to go through the proper process with Ian White. Things happened such that the order in council went missing, so we couldn't do it the way we should have done it. But that's water under the bridge, so let's hear him at an opportune time.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Mr. Chairman, first of all, I believe he was vetted. I mean, he was recommended by the Canadian Wheat Board. Obviously, they've done some research into it.
Like Mr. Lauzon, I don't have any problem with him coming here, but I sure do under those pretenses. I mean, the guy is qualified, and by the time Mr. Easter suggests that he be here, he'll have had the biggest part of a year in his position. Do we want to waste time, waste valuable committee time, checking his credentials, so to speak? I think his history tells us all we need to know.
I'm not going to be ridiculous and vote against it, but under those pretexts, it's purely partisan.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I see this motion as a chance for us to get to know him a little better, to get an update on what's happening with the Wheat Board. From what I've read, he seems like an interesting person, and I would like to have the opportunity to talk to him. That's how I see this motion.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Mr. St. Amand, you have a motion. Can you read it into the record?
May 1st, 2008 / 9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My motion is that:
The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food calls on the Federal Government to immediately implement an exit strategy for tobacco producers consistent with the most recent proposal they have submitted.
By way of background, I suspect this issue is familiar to committee members. About a year and a half ago, presenting before the committee were representatives of an organization called Tobacco Farmers in Crisis, representatives of the tobacco board, and some community members.
Australia and the United States have seen fit to implement a buyout or exit strategy for the tobacco producers in their countries. Probably most significantly, if there is a particularly unique factor that should compel the government to assist tobacco producers in a tangible fashion, it is the fact that an estimated 40% of tobacco consumed in Canada is contraband. There is no other commodity, to my knowledge, that faces such competition from a clearly illegal competitor.
The request of the tobacco producers is for a federal government fund of $275 million. They have reduced considerably their initial request. The tobacco producers are at the desperation point. As Mr. Preston and perhaps Mr. Miller know, some tobacco farmers have taken their own lives over the last several months. They are in very desperate straits.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
A point of order, Mr. Chair.
Mr. St. Amand, I'm not aware of anybody who has taken their own life.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
But tobacco farmers have taken their own lives, so desperate is their situation. To date, the government's response has been to strike a task force some 27 months later.
My motion, simply put, calls on the federal government, in a tangible fashion, to immediately implement an exit strategy for tobacco producers consistent with the proposal for $275 million. I would like the motion to be reported to the House, Mr. Chair.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
We've been talking about this for a quite a long time, and I and others have met with the tobacco producers. It would be good if we could get a resolution on this. I believe in their proposal they want the industry itself to take part, so I think there would be minimal cost to government on this. I think we owe it to them to somehow give them a hand, so let's get on with it. It is a crisis situation and we should be helping them.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I would like to make a friendly amendment to Mr. St. Amand's motion. I think the issue is multi-faceted, and we've started to address that. We have a member of Parliament sitting at this table, Joe Preston, who has many tobacco farmers in his area. He and I have met with tobacco farmers in different communities in southwestern Ontario, and the problem affects more than just the tobacco farmers themselves.
So after “The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food calls on the Federal Government”, I suggest we add “to continue to work with all partners, all stakeholders, to find a workable way forward for tobacco growers, for manufacturers, for communities, and the federal and provincial governments”.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
So after “Federal Government” you would add “to continue to work with all partners to find a workable way forward for tobacco growers, manufacturers, communities, and the federal and provincial governments”.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Continue your debate. I have to make a decision on whether this changes the intent of the motion.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
The point I'm trying to make is that this is not single-faceted; this is multi-faceted, and all stakeholders should be part of the solution. Maybe the language isn't perfect, but you can get the idea of what we're trying to do.