Evidence of meeting #41 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 bees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
First of all, I apologize about the origin. Saskatchewan is also a good honey-producing province. We could even work together. Beekeepers in Saskatchewan are already working with us, in Quebec, as well as a long-time family of beekeepers from Zenon Park.
Conservative
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
We are aware of the minor changes to come as regards labelling, and we are very happy with them. As I said in my presentation, I hope that we will continue in the same direction that we will be able to provide Canadian and Quebec consumers with information showing where the honey comes from. We would like the origin of the honey, if it comes from abroad—although it should not enter Canada—to be clearly identified.
Conservative
Carol Skelton Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
I think up until now it's been very confusing for people when they go into the market and they see “Made in Canada”, and it doesn't say it's grown in Canada, or whatever. So I think the labelling regulations have been confusing.
You lost a lot of bees. Have you been able to partake in the farm programs that have been available to farmers in Canada? Have you been using the programs and have they covered the cost of your losses?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
Unfortunately, we have received virtually no assistance from the federal government. The provincial government has provided some money. It has been difficult, unfortunately. We would have appreciated receiving more. The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program was replaced by the AgriStability and the AgriInvest programs. I hope that Quebec beekeepers will be able to benefit from them.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
I will follow up on what Ms. Skelton was just asking.
Under the old federal-provincial CAIS program, were beekeepers able to make use of that at all? And do you think the new changes to AgriStability will apply to beekeepers?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
The program does not talk about beekeepers, but agriculture in general. I would like this program to do more for beekeepers. As I said earlier, beekeeping is the foundation of agriculture. Bees are the link between plants and animals. Bees are what enables the cycle to go on. I would like more attention to be paid to Quebec and Canadian beekeepers.
Conservative
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Thank you, Mr. Doyon and Ms. Caron for appearing before the committee.
Mr. Chairman, before asking any questions, I would like to point out that I wanted to invite a witness from Alberta whom I met a long time ago. His name was submitted several months ago, but we did not get a reply. It would have been good to hear someone from Alberta as well.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Right, and we did invite everybody from the names that were put forward. Only the Quebec producers said they were available for this hearing.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Thank you.
Mr. Doyon, you mentioned transgenic seeds and biofuels, and that also affects genetically-modified crops. If monocultures all use transgenic seeds, will that pose problems in the future?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
Yes, monoculture is currently causing problems for bees. Since only one type of pollen is being brought back to the hive, there is a pollen shortage.
If I were to draw a parallel with humans, it's as if you were to eat cereal every day. At some point, you would run out of various nutrients. The same thing is true for bees. That is why biodiversity and crop biodiversity is essential.
Yes, this can cause problems for bees. Furthermore, when we talk about genetic modification, the problem is often that flowers that have been genetically modified no longer need to be pollinated by bees. So, they no longer hold any appeal or attraction for the bees, who will then not go and seek out their nectar. So, without nectar there is no honey.
When we use genetically-modified seeds, usually, it's to ensure less traffic in the fields and less soil compaction. However, we realize that yields are lower than they were previously. So if yields are lower, we need to grow crops on a larger area.
If we are talking about biofuels, the same thing holds true. We are currently producing corn, not to feed human beings or livestock but rather to produce fuel. Why are we experiencing a food crisis? We want to be able to produce biofuels, but we can no longer feed people. The question needs to be asked. Just how far can we go? When we introduce genetically-modified seeds and seeds coated with pesticides, we are directly and adversely affecting beekeeping in the short term. In the intermediate and long term, we still don't know how this will affect human beings. We see the prevalence of cancers; perhaps we need to start exploring those areas.
Numerous pesticides are banned or prohibited in Europe. Yet, in Canada, we are starting to approve them. Perhaps we need to ask the PNRA why we are approving products that have been banned elsewhere. We are somewhat behind certain other countries.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
If I understand correctly, Canada needs to do more research in those areas.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
That is one solution. Are there any other concrete ideas or solutions that you could suggest today?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
Clearly, research has to be done with regard to all those approvals, coated seeds and genetically-modified products. We also need to do research in beekeeping in order to ensure that we have bees that are much more resistant to varroa and all those other parasites.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I have another question. Is there any danger to using the nectar of a genetically-modified organism? If we mix that nectar with another nectar to make honey, will it pose any danger?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
At this time, we don't know exactly what the short-term effects will be. However, we will no doubt know something in the intermediate and long term. Before we determine whether the honey or the nectar collected from genetically-modified plants is bad for our health, we would have to see whether what those plants are providing is harmful to human health.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
You are aware of what is being done in Europe. Are they doing anything in this regard?
President, Fédération des apiculteurs du Québec
Yes, a great deal of research is being conducted. There are many pesticides, such as Gaucho and Admire, which are banned in Europe in order to protect bees. In Europe, it's a matter of ensuring the survival of bee colonies.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Merci.
The time has expired. I'm sorry. Thank you, Alex.
As agreed, we've gone one round, and it is past quarter to 10 already. We want to leave time for motions at the end.
So I want to thank our witnesses for coming today and giving us this briefing on what's happening in the apiary business. I would ask you to excuse yourselves from the table, and that Mr. Paul Mayers come up as our next witness.
Rather than suspend the meeting, maybe we'll deal with that housekeeping motion and get that out of the way right now, if that's okay. It's in front of all of you. It's for $11,000 to pay for the tobacco witnesses we had here this last week.
Would somebody please move that?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Thank you, Mr. St. Amand.
Are there any questions on it? Okay.
(Motion agreed to)
