Agriculture Committee on March 22nd, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thank you, Mr. Storseth.

We've made our rounds here, and I am going to take the liberty of asking a question.

We all want a healthy beef industry; in fact, we need it. It helps our economy, without mentioning the people involved in the beef industry, right down through processing.

I've been having a lot of farm meetings over the last few months, and one thing that's pretty clear overall is that people realize and agree that we can't or shouldn't subsidize exports, but the suggestion keeps coming up to find some way to support our domestic supply without basically subsidizing a product that somebody else eats in some other country.

I have given this a lot of thought, and I'm sure a lot of us have. Is there, realistically, a way to do that? I've been asked that question or it has been suggested to me, and I've been putting that out to my farm groups. Have you any comment on how we can look at trying to go along that route?

Travis?

[Travis Toews]

That's a complex question. We would see, again, a multi-faceted answer. First, we think, long-term, the answer is that we need a very competitive business regulatory environment in this country and we also need competitive market access globally. We believe our industry can compete long term. We think those are the two fundamental ingredients, and as we deal in a fiscal environment with a high currency, it makes any extra regulatory burden that we bear more glaring. So we simply have to work to that end.

In terms of support, we are an exporting country and we need to ensure that we are not disadvantaged by having to pay duties as a result of domestic policy. We're not advocating that type of programming.

We're an organization that believes the marketplace is our best direction for the growth and direction of the industry, so we do not support programs that mute market signals.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I think that answer in fact does come to the conclusion I've come to. People will suggest a lot of things, and it's out of frustration when things aren't going well, but in reality it usually doesn't work.

We have been around the table. Are there any other questions for Mr. Toews or Mr. Masswohl?

Seeing none, gentlemen, it's always a pleasure having you here. Thank you very much.

Travis, do you have another comment?

[Travis Toews]

Thank you for the opportunity to appear. Also, I'd personally like to invite each one of you to our reception on Wednesday evening.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I plan on getting there. Thank you.

We will have a short break for about three minutes and then come back to the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We will come back to the table.

Mr. Eyking, you had something you wanted to discuss. Did you change your mind now? You had suggested committee business.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I suggest that we have some time to do some motions that were brought forward before the break. We should deal with them, the ones that are easier to deal with, get them done and see how far we can get.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We have more than 35 minutes here and we have at least two choices, if not more. One is motions and the other is the draft report.

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I'm suggesting we get to the motions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We have a list of the motions here. The first two on the agenda that are basically the first two up are Mr. Atamanenko's. Unless Mr. Allen knows something I don't, I would presume that Mr. Atamanenko would probably want to bring these forward himself.

Mr. Allen.

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

I would say so, yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

The next one on the list--

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, is that actually a rule of the committee? In order to put forward a motion, does the person who tabled the motion have to be here?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Isabelle Duford]

No. A substitute can move it or someone else if there is unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I guess the next one we would have on the table is Mr. Valeriote's motion in regard to car-loading sites by Canadian National.

Mr. Valeriote, I don't know whether you want to bring that forth at this time, but if you do I would invite you to read it onto the record and we'll have a discussion.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Last November I brought a motion that the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food recommend to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities that the Government of Canada take such steps, commence such inquiries, and/or amend such Canadian legislation or regulations as may be required to prevent the delisting and subsequent closure, for which notice was given by Canadian National, of 53 designated producer car loading sites in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and the removal of the shunt lines providing service to such sites, for such period of time that the Government of Canada, in its opinion and in consultation with all stakeholders, determines advisable and in the best interest of all concerned.

I'll bring that motion, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Actually the motion that I have in front of me, Mr. Valeriote, was exactly as you read up to the end. It ended at “removal of the shunt lines”. Now you added something at the end that isn't in any motion that I have here.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

This is hilarious. No, no, no. I've always had that in there. I always expressed quite frankly that it should be “for such time as the Government of Canada in its opinion”, because I think the Government of Canada should be in consultation with the stakeholders to determine what is advisable and in the best interest of all concerned.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'm not saying I have an issue, I'm just telling you what was presented. We don't have that, Mr. Valeriote. I guess with unanimous approval, that extra little bit could be added on, but at least I think that's how it will be.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Okay. I'd served notice of this. So after shunt lines, it says “providing service to such sites, for such period of time that the Government of Canada, in its opinion“--

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'll tell you what. Have you got a hard copy there that you could give me and the clerk temporarily until--

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I would still like to hear it, because we're going to debate it.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

It's “that the Government of Canada, in its opinion and in consultation with all stakeholders, determines advisable and in the best interest of all concerned.”

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Sorry, with all stakeholders...?

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

It says “determines advisable and in the best interest of all concerned.”

Yes, you can have the copy.