Evidence of meeting #36 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
Thank you, Mr. Lemieux.
Mr. Valeriote, you have about one minute. That being said, I don't know if we're going to have time to vote on this today, because there are other speakers.
Go ahead, Mr. Valeriote.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Chair, I'd like to make it clear that in no way am I questioning the ethics of the producers or the processors, nor their responsibility. I know they take that responsibility very seriously, and of course it does make good business sense that they do so.
In fact, I'd like to thank Mr. Lemieux for his comments about the efforts the government has undertaken so far. I was at a presentation where the minister delivered money to the University of Guelph to undertake research in animal welfare, and I'm grateful for that as well. But I--
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
You can thank him personally on Thursday, because he's going to be here.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
I will.
The point is that there have been recent reports, and as a committee we have never undertaken a review of the circumstances. Why is a study important and why not a study on the previous issue? Well, on the previous issue, we in effect did have a study on loader producer cars, when the rail industry did appear before us and, as I said, presented with arrogance and insensitivity their position. We conducted a study. We passed a motion. We sent it to the minister and nothing was done. In this instance, no study has been undertaken whatsoever.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
We just have a minute left.
Mr. Storseth, do you want to make a few comments? Then I'm going to wrap up.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
Mr. Storseth has four minutes. I'm only going to have comments for another 30 seconds or so. If he goes longer, then we're not going to be able to vote. I think that's the rule of the House here.
Go ahead.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Off the bat, I'm not opposed to what Francis is talking about or asking here, but I have several questions in regard to this. One is timelines. What do you see in this motion as timelines?
You mentioned several things in here, Francis. You're kind of taking on a massive undertaking here. It seems to me you're kind of lumping everything in all at once. Do you have priorities within this when you're talking about overcrowded transportation conditions and living conditions?
Then you get into the adequacy of numbers and animal inspectors for enforcement. It just seems like you're putting a lot in this, or maybe not. I'd like to hear your comments on that. How much of a priority do you see this as? How long do you think this is going to take?
I'd like to know about the types and number of witnesses you're receiving here, because obviously, if what we're talking about is another one of the Liberal Party's drive-by smears, where we look at things for one meeting and then make a recommendation, then, quite frankly, I'm not interested.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
Excuse me, but I have to adjourn the debate. Time is running out.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
As long as I have the floor when we come back, Mr. Chair.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Mark Eyking
We will resume it.
We got a lot done. We've gone through our steering committee report and we have most of the motions. I think there are only one or two that we didn't do, so I commend everybody this morning for working together.
The meeting is adjourned.