Evidence of meeting #11 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agriculture.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
You're not talking about the main report; I'm talking about the motion.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
No, I'm talking about the motion.
It was asked by you, Mr. Lemieux--
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
--then perfect. Forget I raised it. That's fine.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Okay. Very good, then.
Other times you accuse me of not banging the gavel soon enough.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Yes, all right. No problem, then. That's good.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
As the committee's working so well today, I thought I'd bring up an issue that's been raised in the last couple of days with regard to the grain companies starting to register their securities on operating loans or on the input cost loans that they're giving. This has potential for a lot of trouble. It could be very difficult for some of our grains and oilseeds farmers in particular.
So I'm giving notice that I'll be putting a motion forward to have CAAR, the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, come forward so we can talk to them about this and see if this is something they are seeing. I think it's very important, especially after just finishing a study on competitiveness, that we make sure we keep the industry as competitive as possible, and that means being there for the independents as well.
I think it would be very relevant to have CAAR come forward and tell us whether or not this is an issue they're seeing with many of their members.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Okay.
Just on our travel and what have you, I think everybody should note that we can deal with some committee business if there's an urgent need or if something comes up. I would stress, however, that since our travel is pretty intense timewise, if any motions or other business are brought up while we're travelling, each member should try to at least find out if there's unanimous consent so that we can limit debate.
I guess how I'm going to deal with it, if it doesn't appear there's unanimous debate for a motion or something, is that I'm basically not going to entertain it. You know, we have a limited amount of time. But if something comes up, I just want to stress that...
Take, for example, this motion we just dealt with from Mr. Eyking. If we hadn't had unanimous consent today, we could have dealt with that on Monday or Tuesday or whatever.
Just so we're clear on that; so your motion--
5:10 p.m.
An hon. member
[Inaudible--Editor]...Mr. Chair.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Certainly. We're on committee meetings. I don't see any reason why not.
Now, I'd never argue with you, Mr. Storseth, as far as the rules and procedures go, but I believe we have the powers to...
Mr. Hoback.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Just to speak to the motion, from what I understand, what's happening is that farmers, when they're doing their cash advances, have to go to their elevator agent to get him to sign off, and he's taking first place in security, which basically means the banks won't sign off. Or if they do sign off, that means the farmer can't go to other input suppliers and buy inputs. He has to buy them from that individual only.
That's the issue that Brian's trying to highlight.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Without getting into debating the motion--it hasn't even been tabled--would it be your intention, Mr. Storseth, to have them here at committee when we're back in town on the 5th?
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
If we're going to deal with this issue or we're going to look at it, I think it's going to have to happen quickly. I think the first logical step is to talk to CAAR and see what their position is and see what their solution is. The people I'm talking to don't necessarily know what the solution is either.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
My advice would be to table the motion so that we have 48-hours' notice, talk to our colleagues around the table, and, if there's agreement, then we can have them here on the 5th. The sooner we do that, the sooner Isabelle can invite them and have them here.
Okay?
If there's nothing else, I'll adjourn the meeting.
We'll see everybody in Kelowna either Sunday night or Monday morning.