Evidence of meeting #35 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 work.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
It's quite a long motion. Could we read it again?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay, this is the motion that was carried:
That 48 hours notice will be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the committee by the clerk of the committee. The motion shall be distributed to members in both official languages and all motions received by the Clerk shall be placed upon the agenda of the first committee meeting following the period of notice.
So we did say “any substantive motion”—and Mr. Storseth is right on his point of order.
So, Mr. Boshcoff, I'd ask that your motion be tabled and we'll discuss it in 48 hours. I'll let you finish off.
Liberal
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Could I ask whether, if we had unanimous consent, we could deal with it now? Is that possible?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
You can ask for unanimous consent.
Does Mr. Boshcoff have unanimous consent to table the motion?
I don't see unanimous consent.
Mr. Boshcoff, are you finished with the floor?
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In light of Mr. Easter's comments and Mr. Boshcoff's comments, I would propose that this committee be happy for farmers and move forward with this motion: that we go back in camera and study the draft report that we have before us on “Product of Canada” and get moving with the business of the day.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay. That closes off debate.
I'm going to first of all have to make a few comments. One is on the question of privilege that Mr. Steckle raises. As chair of the committee, I have no authority or power to rule on questions of privilege. That lies with the Speaker.
I'd just like to say that the work we do here as committee is extremely important, that it always is important. I don't believe the announcement by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food pre-empted any of our recommendations. They still have open books until June 11. I know from my conversations with the minister that they are waiting for our recommendations and that these will be taken into consideration as they move forward with the development of the policy.
As to the power to change guidelines and the issue of whether or not our democratic ability and parliamentary powers have been compromised, I would just say that changes are coming to guidelines—we're not talking about orders in council; we're not talking about legislative changes. Essentially, the government, at any point in time, for the past 30 years since the “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” labels were introduced, had the power to change them at the departmental level without any consultation from parliamentarians or from witnesses. I don't think there are any questions concerning whether our ability as committees to do work has been compromised.
Mr. Steckle raised a question about whether or not our schedule was delayed. I would like to say that the earliest we could have had this report prepared in both official languages and presented was essentially last week, which was a recess. It was decided to have the Wheat Board and the Canadian Grain Commission at committee to fill in the time until we had the report finalized and ready for discussion.
I'd also like to add that in the work we have done here at committee, especially on this issue of “Product of Canada”, we have heard a lot broader base of issues than what is being dealt with by the department, from what the minister has said. The recommendations we have here are, I think, very substantive and go beyond what the minister is looking for in his consultations.
We still have a great number of strong recommendations to make to the government by tabling this report in the House of Commons. As Mr. Easter says, let's get it done and let's get it into the House as quickly as possible.
With that, I'd like to entertain a motion that we move back in camera.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
He's already moved it? Okay.
I'll hear a quick comment from Mr. Atamanenko.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
If we're not back in camera yet, can we deal with the motion I have, so that we don't have to waste time going back in camera after? Or do you want to wait until the end?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I think we should wait until the end. That's where it is on the agenda, and Mr. Storseth has put a motion on the table to move us back in camera so that we can work on the report.
Is that okay?
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I'm going to suspend so that we can go back in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
[Public proceedings resume]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
We're back in public session.
We're going to move to Mr. Atamanenko's motion. Can you put it on the floor?
NDP
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
The motion is as follows:
That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food call on officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide a briefing to the Committee on: (a) the status of the updates to Animal Transport Regulations that are being proposed;
(b) when it is expected the regulations will be sent to Justice for a final draft; (c) anticipated timeline for when the final draft of these regulations will be posted to the Canada Gazette.
So it's my understanding that all this is saying is that they're working on it and they have something. I hear from inside sources that they would like to be able to put this forward. There are also groups concerned about transportation of animals that are asking us when something is going to happen.
The idea is that they have done their homework, and I think it would be worth while to get a briefing from them on these three points. That's all it is.
Conservative
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
I'm going to support this motion, Mr. Chairman. I know that a lot of the livestock haulers in my riding--and eventually farmers--are very concerned about what some extreme groups are hoping for and trying to get. I think we need an update to clear the air and that kind of thing, so I'm going to support the motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Before we adjourn, on Thursday we have to figure out now what we have. We have Mr. Boshcoff's motion to deal with. We have the study to do, and we haven't dealt with the votes on main estimates. If they're not done by May 31, they're just deemed to be adopted. If you guys want to deal with the motions, we have to deal with them on Thursday. It's your call. If not, we'll just let her slide by.