Agriculture Committee on June 17th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Mr. Thibault, you have just over a minute.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Doyon.

In Quebec and in Canada, are Canadian or Quebec bees used, or are imported bees used?

[Jean-François Doyon]

They are originally from Italy, but they have adapted to the Quebec and Canadian climate.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I noticed this spring that wild apple trees had even more flowers than usual. I don't remember ever having seen that many. Nature produced many flowers, but I don't see any bees. Has the North-American bee disappeared? Has it been replaced by imported bees?

[Jean-François Doyon]

There aren't actually any Canadian bees, given that our climate is too harsh. During the winter, bees cannot survive outside. Therefore there are no bees that originally come from Canada. We imported them.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Then, the bees we see in nature are bees that have escaped from farms, from bee-keepers hives?

[Jean-François Doyon]

Normally, you should not see any in nature. The ones we see are in fact bees coming from beekeepers. I can see where you are going with your question, and I can tell you that while they originally came from abroad, they have been adapted thanks to their lineages. Scientists did research to adapt the species to the rigorous winters in Canada and Quebec.

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Bellavance.

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

Thank you for your remarks. I had been wanting to hear from you for quite some time now. Over the years, we have seen the apiculture industry face serious losses. I think that you did a good job of putting the problem in context by targeting what is at the basis of the phenomenon. You talked about pollination. Cranberry production began in my riding. The work that you do is therefore very important. We talk about the blueberries in the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region, and so on. It is the very foundation of agriculture everywhere. So it is very important to discuss the issue. We are hearing your comments today, but because the session is winding down, I would like us to continue examining this issue in the fall. The committee will make that decision.

Mr. Doyon, you said that there is nothing that proves our bees were affected by the colony collapse disorder, or CCD. However, in Canada in 2006-2007, 30% of the colonies were lost. You said that the situation had perhaps improved for 2007-2008.

[Jean-François Doyon]

The situation improved slightly in Quebec in 2007-2008, but in Alberta, losses this year were approximately 60%.

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

That is huge.

[Jean-François Doyon]

Indeed. However, it is the first year that Alberta has experienced such significant losses.

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

What are you basing your comments on to say that the problem is not due to colony collapse syndrome? While the United States recorded losses of 40%, Canada faced losses of 30%. The Americans have determined that it was due to CCD. Why would that not be the case here as well? Does scientific evidence enable us to establish that it is not a case of colony collapse syndrome here?

[Jean-François Doyon]

As I explained a little earlier, the problem that we are facing in Quebec and Canada in general is linked to a host of minor factors. There are parasites, but when the varroa parasite enters the colony, it weakens it. Bees also introduce viruses and other diseases that already existed, but that were not widespread. All of these factors are contributing to our loss of colonies.

In the United States, they say that the problem was colony collapse syndrome, but we do not really know what that statement was based upon. Exactly what CCD is has not really been defined. Therefore we cannot say that we have lost bees due to that problem. There are a host of factors.

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

It may be like human beings, who become accustomed to the medication they take. You talked about the varroa parasite. I have visited beekeepers in my riding. They have told me that the bees were perhaps less apt to receiving treatment that was applied in the past and that this phenomenon was likely behind their death.

Do you have any information on that?

[Jean-François Doyon]

No, I don't think so. The products are still registered. That is another problem we have faced. In 2003, we had only one registered product to treat varroatosis, and it took quite some time to get a second one. When it came, it was highly effective. In 2004 and 2005, everything went well. In 2006, we faced the same situation, because in many cases, beekeepers were using only one product. I think that the parasites and not the treatments weaken the bees. Parasites do, however, become resistant to treatment.

That is why we are calling for new products or different pest control products to be registered. We would like the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, the PMRA, to be able to register products more quickly, to save as many colonies as quickly as possible. Having just two products that are chemical products is not very effective. With a variety of products, we can diversify the treatments, and in doing so, significantly reduce the losses.

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

Action could perhaps be taken on the scientific side. Laboratories do tests, but at the national level, in Canada, although you may be able to exchange certain tests, and so on, there is not really a national lab that can gather the data. Could that be an advantage?

You said that Alberta lost 60% of its bees. It would be helpful to know exactly what happened, and to share that with everyone. The same thing goes for the problems in Quebec. It seems to me that it should be possible to have very precised scientific studies that can be shared with all beekeepers.

[Jean-François Doyon]

Things are, indeed, being done: CAPA meets once a year, and various Canadian researchers discuss and conduct research together. However, it is quite difficult to follow all of that, because in Quebec, we have the Fédération des apiculteurs, whereas in Ontario, it is the OBA. The CHC, or the Canadian Honey Council, is the umbrella organization for these groups, but it is quite costly to be able to follow the activities of the Canadian Honey Council. We are talking about quite limited budgets. When we experience losses in colonies like that, beekeepers are less inclined to spend the money to participate in different activities at the national level. So it is quite difficult, financially speaking, to follow everything that is going on.

However, Canadian researchers do talk to each other. Research is conducted in each province, but there are also things that are done generally. I would even say that we meet the Americans about twice a year to discuss these issues. Symposiums are organized.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Thank you.

Time has expired.

Go ahead, Ms. Skelton.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Thank you very much for being here today.

I wish I could remember what size of honey container I bought at the farmers' market and how much the difference in price is between Saskatchewan and Quebec. My husband and I love honey. I use it in my baking and everything, and I buy it from the local farmers' market.

You talked about parasites and the registration of new products to combat them. How long does it take for the registration of a new product to help against parasites? Do you know? Do you have a timeline?

[Jean-François Doyon]

Registering new products does, indeed, require a considerable amount of time. It can take up to two years and it is extremely costly. I thank you for choosing Canadian honey in Alberta—I believe that is what you said. There is excellent honey, quality honey. I believe that in Alberta, the Alberta coop packages the honey. I think you are making a good choice in buying Canadian honey.

If we go back to the first part of your question, yes it does take an enormous amount of time to register new products, it is very costly and it is difficult. When it can take two years to register a product, that is often too long: colonies can be lost. And I would say that it takes more than a year or two to rebuild colonies.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

I think we will have to talk to the minister about that.

I have a question for you. When we run out of honey at our local farmers' market, would our farmers from Saskatchewan be able to talk to Quebec farmers and transport between the two provinces? Are there regulations stopping the trade between provinces for honey producers?

[Jean-François Doyon]

There is no problem, but I would say that in Quebec we produce between 20 and 25% of the honey we consume, whereas Alberta is a province that exports it; it is the largest honey-producing province. Quebec should work with Alberta to bring Canadian honey into Quebec. We have nothing against bringing Canadian honey into Quebec. What frustrates us is seeing honey from Argentina, China or Australia on our shelves. When the Albertans want to work with us... They are already prepared to do so, but when they need us we will be there to develop the markets; there is no doubt about that.

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Well, I'm from Saskatchewan and I can really say we have very good honey producers in Saskatchewan.

Recently the Prime Minister made an announcement about how the Government of Canada is going to change the labelling in some way, and hopefully that announcement, the final announcement, will come soon, after the report that was put out by this committee.

Did you read his announcement ,and what were your feelings about this at that time?