Agriculture Committee on Nov. 6th, 2012

Evidence of meeting #55 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 chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill S-11, An Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Neil Bouwer Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Julie Adair Legal Counsel, Agriculture and Food Inspection Legal Services, Department of Justice

Colleen Barnes Executive Director, Domestic Policy Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON

What does it mean when it says “except sections 73, 94, 109 and 110”? When would they come into force, if it doesn't come into force by order of the Governor in Council?

10:45 a.m.

Legal Counsel, Agriculture and Food Inspection Legal Services, Department of Justice

Julie Adair

Mr. Chair, those sections come into force on royal assent because they are provisions dealing with transitional matters, such as licences, which are currently being issued through meat inspection, fish inspection, and the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Section 94 is with regard to regulations under the Health of Animals Act that are amended here.

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON

That adequately explains, Mr. Chair, why I, through this amendment, have added clause 68 to clause 111, so that the five-year time will start to run immediately upon royal assent, which will likely happen sooner than the order of the Governor in Council, which could be delayed by six, eight, ten months, depending on when the regulations are brought forward.

So that it's clear, we're hopeful that at the very least we can start the clock ticking on the five years, under clause 68, for the internal review sooner rather than later. That's the reason for the amendment, Mr. Chair.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative