Evidence of meeting #26 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was regulations.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I think we'll be here on the 23rd, unless we go to an election next Friday. I think that's a pretty fair statement.
1:55 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Can I quote you on that, Larry? We'll be here on the 23rd.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
There had better not be an election, because after the fibs the Prime Minister told today in Cambridge, he really shouldn't--
1:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
It is two o'clock, but I think this is an important discussion, so let's stick to the topic.
2 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
We obviously all need time to look at that draft report before we come here to go through it. I'm wondering maybe if Isabelle can tell us when that would be available so that we can have enough time to go through this report we're doing, in addition to going through the one on food safety.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Chair, I just want to highlight that the food safety report is scheduled for Tuesday. I don't think anyone's suggesting that it move.
In terms of the other report, we have a matter here that actually impacts the report. We've done a lot of work. We've had a lot of good committee meetings, a lot of good testimony, but there's a huge discrepancy here that we need to look at.
I think we should take the time to look at it. That's what I'm suggesting--that we take the time to look at it before we break for the summer. This is something we found out about three days ago. It shows good responsiveness and attentiveness on the part of this committee.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I think that's what we're hearing. From my own side, I personally haven't been happy with them all the time that we've.... I'd like to see the Competition Bureau back here.
On the fertilizer industry, I've heard from different members on all sides, and I won't use the words “they'd like another crack at them”, but I think a number of issues seem to be outstanding, Alex, that I'm hearing from around the table. Maybe we should take the time, include them, and study them a little further before we do the report.
2 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Mr. Chair, I'd really like to question them about an answer to Mr. Valeriote's question in the last meeting on where this margin is. Are the packers actually using COOL as an excuse to discount cattle without any justification? I think we need time to do that.
2 p.m.
An hon. member
Yes. That's excellent.
2 p.m.
Conservative
2 p.m.
Conservative
2 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
So it's possible that we will not have the report to go through and complete before the summer. That's what I'm hearing.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
That's what I'm hearing, Alex--that we should continue our study on it.
Do we have a willingness, then, to bring somebody in for Thursday if possible?
2 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yes.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Thank you.
Thanks again to our witnesses.
The meeting is adjourned.