Agriculture Committee on May 2nd, 2019

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

But…

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

…the international trading system.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Actually, Madam Minister, that doesn’t seem to be working, unfortunately. The losses have now been going on for two months. The Canola Council of Canada estimates that the losses may reach up to $1 billion for Canadian canola producers. We sense no urgency on the part of your government to settle this crisis. You talk about committee meetings, consultations and legal rules. But has anyone in the government at least bothered to call China’s ambassador here in Canada to try and get some diplomatic discussions started?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

There have been discussions at various levels.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

With the Chinese ambassador?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

As you know, Minister Freeland is responsible for diplomatic relations. As Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, my priority is to defend production—

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Has anyone else in the government—

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Yes, sir?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

—talked to the Chinese ambassador about the canola crisis?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

There have been discussions at various levels. I'm not in a position to confirm exactly who it was or when it happened, but what I'm telling you—

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

So in your working group, you don't tell each other what you are each doing. The Minister of International Trade Diversification and the Minister of Foreign Affairs do things, but the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, who is responsible for production, farmers and markets, is not aware. She doesn't know what Ms. Freeland is doing.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Yes.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

She doesn't know who Ms. Freeland is talking to.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Berthold, I work very well with Ms. Freeland. You asked the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to appear before you. I'm telling you that my—

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

We also asked Ms. Freeland to appear before us. Do you think she should?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is the one before you. I'm telling you that my mandate is to defend our Canadian producers and products. That's what I'm doing. I have an obligation to defend the quality of our Canadian canola, and I do so with all the determination in the world.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Do you believe China's claims?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I also have a duty to ensure that our inspection system remains robust. It's truly a fundamental issue, and our farmers understand that very well.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Do you believe China's claims about the quality of Canadian canola?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I have asked for evidence. I still haven't received any. This canola shipment was inspected before and after, and there was no evidence that it did not meet Chinese requirements.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

So—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Berthold.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

That's too bad.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Longfield, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you and welcome to our committee.

We continue the discussion this committee has had on canola, and I know that shortly you'll be receiving a letter that we're putting in through the chair to discuss some of the issues we've talked about this morning, so I'll leave that to the letter. Your response coming back to us will be anticipated, and we'll be very interested to see how that goes.

I'm really interested also in the food policy. We did an in-depth study that could have been a best seller in Guelph. We had professors who were using our study in the classrooms. Some came to me with dog-eared copies with notes all over them. Guelph is now asking me, “We have a budget of $134 million, when can we see that report?” Do you have a timeline on when we'll be able to see the food policy so that we can have further discussions in Guelph?