Evidence of meeting #39 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
He is suggesting that when the minister is done, if there are any gaps that weren't visited throughout the country, the steering committee would look at them and suggest that the committee go and visit those areas.
Is that right?
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Well, given the fact that it's not part of the motion--
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
It has nothing to do with the motion. It's a suggestion that the steering committee look at it.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Can you refresh my memory as to the timeline of when the motion would actually take effect? When would this study actually come forward?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
We've discussed this before. What we're hoping is that in the second half, after Christmas, we would get right into the whole thing, the future of farming and young farmers. That was the kind of mandate we wanted after the Christmas break. This motion is a prelude to it, I guess.
Is everybody in agreement with that? Does that clarify that, Ms. Hughes?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
The steering committee would decide the timeframe based on the motions there before it--
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
It was asked of me, Mr. Chair, if I had some guidance, so I'm giving you some guidance. The steering committee makes those decisions.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
I know. They make recommendations to the main committee.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Chairman, I have a point of order. It is past 4:30 p.m. The agenda says that the Committee's business is to end at 4:30 p.m. We have witnesses waiting to talk about program review. Since that part of the agenda was scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., I suggest we abide by the agenda and vote on the motion at the next Committee meeting.
4:30 p.m.
Voices
No.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
It's not a matter of yes or no. We have to follow the agenda. At 4:30 p.m., the time set aside for the discussion was up. It is now time to move on to the next item, which to hear from our witnesses. We can deal with the motion at the next--
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, you called the vote and it's a recorded vote.
Why are you so threatened by this?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
I think we've called the vote. Somebody also said it should be a recorded vote. So I think we're going to go ahead with the vote and record it as is.
4:30 p.m.
An hon. member
Good idea.
4:30 p.m.
Chair
So let's get on with this, guys. Okay?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Mr. Chair, can we have the clerk read the motion? Thank you.
4:30 p.m.
The Clerk
Once again, the motion as amended reads:
That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food study government and industry initiatives around the future of farming focusing on young farmers and their involvement in agriculture.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
There's one more little bit of business I have to deal with before we bring the witnesses here.
It was brought to my attention that the young farmers are going to be here on December 3. Now I know that properly we should take this to the steering committee. Right now, on December 3, we have GMOs slated. There is a day the following week available to us to do GMOs. Why I'm bringing this up now is that we have to tell the witnesses sooner rather than later.
Is it the will of the committee that we invite the young farmers here then, or do we wait until whenever?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Often, Mr. Chair, when we've had the Young Farmers of Canada here, we've had them to a lunch meeting or something like that. We could do something along those lines. We could call a special meeting. Otherwise, we have to move the GMOs back a day. If they're in town, we should take the opportunity to meet them.
If the steering committee makes a conference call on it and makes a decision, that's fine by me.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
You're suggesting that maybe we could continue with our regular business and maybe meet separately or even go around to their meeting or something to that effect.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I think it's useful to have a formal setting with them, as we've had before. We've had sandwiches with them or whatever. We do need to hear them, and I suppose it would be better if it were on the record. We could call a special meeting, for that matter.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
Okay. If that's all right with everybody, we'll continue with our schedule as is, and we'll have a special meeting with the young farmers.
Is everybody in agreement? Are there any comments?