I will read the motion and give a couple of reasons for the motion.
I move the following:
That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food make a recommendation to the government to move toward implementing measures to alleviate the competitive disadvantage facing Canadian agri-retailers and farmers as a result of the recently passed U.S. Farm Bill, wherein are provided tax credits and grants to enhance security upgrades at American agri-retail sites as required by Dept. of Homeland Security regulations.
This is a result of our contact with Mr. David MacKay of the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, who asked us to see whether we could have a motion. It's this whole idea once again of a level playing field. In this case it's not the producer; it's the retailer.
In the U.S. they're getting some help to implement security regulations, but here, according to the association, we're not. It's the idea that if we want these folks to be competitive and have our people continue buying from them, we should try to get them onto a level playing field.
The report they made to the Senate committee says that the retail sector is left to bear the entire burden of security regulations and that this will be a burden on the whole sector.
They're suggesting something similar to what is in the ports. The maritime security contribution program reimburses Canadian ports 75% of all eligible expenses incurred for security upgrades identical to those that would be required at agri-retail sites. Whether by direct rebate or tax credit, the government would have ultimate control over expense, eligibility, and limits.
They're saying that perhaps a tax credit system might be preferable and more affordable than a direct rebate program, but the idea is that there should be some kind of assistance if in fact they have to follow these security regulations. There should be some kind of assistance to our agri-retailers to do it, and that's the basic thrust of this motion.