Evidence of meeting #7 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 industry.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:36 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I call the meeting back to order.
As I mentioned, we have a bunch of motions to deal with.
Mr. Dreeshen.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
The clerk and I were just discussing that. Until we actually had the motion moved, we weren't going to circulate that.
It's hard to say how many, but we have a number of motions, Mr. Atamanenko, and I don't know whether we'll get to them all today.
Mr. Bellavance.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was a comment on the presentations.
I felt bad today that we had representations of the international group, the Canadian Pork Council, and the producers, and actually we had only about an hour and a half. The other day we gave extended times, and there didn't seem to be any concern about cutting off the time. Today we didn't even get a full round. I had a number of questions I would have liked to present and receive information on.
We've gone now to this business, and maybe I should have raised it earlier, but I think that when we bring people in from across Canada... Our time was really short with them, and I just wish we had more of it, that's all. I didn't get a chance for questions, and I think some of us had some questions to get answered.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Your point is well taken, Mr. Shipley, and I can't say that I disagree with you.
However, I am at the command of the committee, and it was made clear in advance that we were going to break at this time, and I have to deal with what's ahead of me. But it's a good point, and I agree with you that it's unfortunate. I guess in future maybe if question time is shared, you can go from there.
Mr. Dreeshen.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
As a visiting member, I certainly appreciated the opportunity to listen to the Pork Council today.
I would like to ask that we deal with the following notice of motion at this time: that the committee clerk arrange for the committee to travel to Manitoba to tour the Canada Grain Commission, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Canadian International Grains Institute, a grain terminal, and a slaughter plant in April and schedule a public meeting while in Winnipeg to hear witnesses.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
This is Mr. Hoback's motion, as everybody realizes. As Mr. Dreeshen is substituting for him, he can bring this forth.
Mr. Atamanenko.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I discussed this with Randy a few days ago, and I know one of his main concerns is to talk to the Canadian Wheat Board. There were a couple of things, and I also thought of France's comment that—
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
If I could, he had a motion that was tabled that dealt with the Wheat Board, which is a totally different one.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I'm talking about this one, and I understand what he's doing. I also remember France's comment about the cost and that it may not be appropriate to go at this point in time, to take a committee, because of budget considerations.
Although I agree with the idea of visiting all these organizations, and that might not happen until later, I thought that—and I told him this—if Randy's intent was to talk and have a frank discussion with the Wheat Board, it might be in all of our best interests to invite the director and a couple of—
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
We're into debate then, obviously. The motion deals with a number of things.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I thought we were just talking on this motion.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Chair, Randy is not here. We did table his previous motion until we had some answers, and that's why I have another motion coming forward.
We don't have a problem with doing a tour of the Canadian Grain Commission and all the agencies outlined here. In fact, I think we suggested some of them. I think the idea behind Randy's original motion concerned the Canadian Wheat Board contingency fund.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
On a point of order, Mr. Easter, we're not talking about that motion.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I know we're not, but this motion is a substitute for it, Mr. Chair.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I see it as a substitute for it, to try to do somewhat the same thing.
I think we will be supporting this motion. If the understanding of this motion is that for a public meeting we would all be asked to offer witnesses up to come into that public meeting, then we'd be in agreement with this motion. But this will take some time to put together, Mr. Chair.
Randy's not here, and that makes it difficult, but if the key purpose or intent of this is to look at the Canadian Wheat Board contingency fund, then I would suggest that we, as a committee, ask the Canadian Wheat Board's CEO to come in.
Mr. Chair, the reason I raise this is that we are getting some very serious concerns that the minister's statement relative to the Wheat Board contingency fund—which is clearly misinformation, and I can table with you the Wheat Board's statement—is starting to hurt the commercial viability of the board.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Mr. Easter, if you want to have the Wheat Board in, that's another issue.
