Evidence of meeting #25 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was inspectors.
A recording is available from Parliament.
National President, Agriculture Union
No, I can't in dairy. I'd have to go and get that for you. That's why I said it's an across-the-board figure.
February 15th, 2012 / 4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Could you submit those numbers to the committee in writing? I understand if you don't have them, but--
National President, Agriculture Union
Sure, absolutely.
In addition, I would tell you that 2% is high, because 2% of shipments are looked at, and within those shipments you're also looking at a small amount.
Conservative
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
But for meat, you're saying it would be higher--like 50%?
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
How much of that would be inspected on the other side of the border by the Americans?
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
One hundred percent. So it's inspected by the Americans, but not necessarily inspected by Canadians?
National President, Agriculture Union
Correct. The same with produce and grains that are sent elsewhere.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Isn't that kind of what you were talking about on the other side of it? You were saying that we inspect 100% of what we send out, but it's not necessarily 100% being inspected in, say, China, when it gets there from Canadian exports.
National President, Agriculture Union
We're required to document that we have inspected, and we certify products leaving the country as meeting the standards of the foreign country, so in terms of diseases--
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
What I'm trying to get to is you said there are two sets of rules. What you're saying is the Americans would inspect everything that comes across into Canada, and we would inspect a lesser number. Now, we inspect everything that goes into the U.S. Would the U.S. inspect everything that comes into the U.S.?
National President, Agriculture Union
They certify everything that comes to Canada. We certify everything that goes out. It's what happens when you inspect imports on behalf of the country that's receiving them.
One of the things you have to recognize is when you inspect a product going out, you inspect it at source, you inspect the product itself, and then it gets loaded on.... This has happened frequently--a shipment of meat is surrounded by car batteries, and that's intercepted at the border when we do import inspections. They're talking about taking those inspections off the table right now.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
The last question I have for you--and I thank you for your testimony--you've made it very clear that the union that you represent firmly believes that more inspectors equals a safer system for Canadians. Correct?
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
But this is a time of austerity, and everybody's looking at what they can do to help out the greater good. Would you, today, be willing to say that you and your union would be willing to agree to wage freezes if it meant more inspectors?
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Chair, that's a highly inappropriate question. We're talking about marketing, we're talking about inspections--
National President, Agriculture Union
If you want to get into a debate about the economy in general and where the money comes from, sure.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
--and now he's talking about wages. It's an inappropriate question.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Order, order. He can answer the question. He has that choice. I don't think he needs you or me to protect him.
Mr. Storseth, you're out of time. If you want to answer it, Mr. Kingston....
National President, Agriculture Union
I appreciate your concern, but it would take a more wholesome look at the entire economic picture, and I'd be glad to do that with you.
Conservative