Evidence of meeting #139 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

France Pégeot  Executive Vice-President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Annette Gibbons  Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Welcome, everyone. We are starting the second hour of our meeting, which is open to the public.

This morning, it is our honour to welcome the new Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau.

Ms. Bibeau, congratulations on your new position as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

We are also pleased to welcome Annette Gibbons, Associate Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food, as well as France Pégeot, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Welcome to you all.

Madam Minister, we will start with you. You have 10 minutes for your opening remarks.

Noon

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'm so pleased to have this opportunity to meet with you for the first time.

As you know, these have been some very busy first weeks for me since I took over the portfolio at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on March 1. I've embraced my new role with a lot of enthusiasm. I thought I had the best job as the Minister of International Development, but I must admit that I very much enjoy Agriculture and Agri-Food as well.

I will certainly be relying on the expertise around this table. Thank you for your important work. I know you are exploring the issues that matter for the industry—climate change, non-tariff trade barriers and a food policy for Canada, to name just a few.

This morning I am pleased to outline some of the key priorities we are focusing on at the department and across the government.

The government has high ambitions for our agricultural trade. Taken together, our trade agreements are giving our farmers a competitive edge in 60% of the global economy. Canada is the only G7 member to have trade agreements with all the others.

The government's top priority is to regain full market access for our canola seed exports to China. At the same time, we are ensuring Canadian producers have the support they need. The industry has been very clear that farmers will need additional assistance this year to manage cash flow pressures. That is why yesterday the Minister of International Trade Diversification and I announced that the federal government will amend the regulations of the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act to increase the loan limits under the advance payments program.

The regulatory amendment will change the loan limits for the advance payments program for 2019 as follows: Advances will increase from $400,000 to $1 million on all commodities, and the first $100,000 will remain interest-free on all commodities except canola, for which the interest-free advances will be eligible for up to $500,000. These measures will give producers the support they need to manage their cash flow. As well, we are extending the AgriStability enrolment deadline by two months without penalty, from April 30 to July 2.

These measures reflect the commitment of federal and provincial governments to work together to respond to the needs of farmers and industry. Our working group with industry and provinces has been meeting weekly, and today again, and is focused on supporting the sector, including the importance of diversifying into new markets.

Our canola working group has been meeting weekly to discuss ways of supporting the sector, including the importance of diversifying into new markets.

We are diversifying our trade through agreements like the CPTPP, which will eliminate tariffs on canola products going into Japan. Already, Canadian beef exports to Japan have doubled in the first two months of 2019, compared to the same period last year. And Canadian pork exports to that country increased by nearly 14%.

Next week, I will travel to Japan to participate in the G20 agriculture ministers' meeting. While in Japan, I will meet with Japanese industry leaders and officials from several countries to advance Canada's agricultural trade.

We are optimistic that, as more Canadians pursue opportunities created by the CPTPP and the free trade agreement with Europe, we will see these numbers grow.

At the same time, we are protecting our pork industry by taking measures to keep African swine fever out of Canada.

Canadian pork producers depend on exports to sell 70% of their production. We are investing in stronger border controls and stronger inspection of feed imports.

Canada is taking international leadership on African swine fever. On Tuesday, I addressed an international forum on the subject that we organized in partnership with the United States. Twenty-five countries participated, including the European Union.

Canada's trade strategy is strong and balanced. At the same time, we know that our trade agreements have impacts on our dairy, poultry and egg producers, who are subject to supply management.

That is why the 2019 budget proposes an investment of up to $3.9 billion to deal with income losses associated with the CPTPP and the free-trade agreement with Europe, and to protect against any reduction in quota value.

Since I took the position, I have had many meetings with producers, processors and those who represent them. I also attended the first meeting of the strategic working group for dairy. Our common goal is the long-term competitiveness of our dairy, poultry and egg producers.

Another major priority for us is to launch a food policy for Canada.

Last week, we had a great discussion on the food policy with some key stakeholders at the food security symposium in Toronto.

In the 2019 budget, we are proposing to invest $134.4 million to support the food policy, the first of its kind for Canada. The policy sets out an ambitious vision of ensuring that all people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. It seeks to make Canada's food system resilient and innovative, to sustain our environment, and to support our economy.

The future is full of promise for Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry. Demand for Canadian food continues to rise, and Canada has the competitive advantages to meet that demand sustainably.

I look forward to working with you and all stakeholders to help our agriculture and agri-food sector grow, innovate, and prosper.

Thank you.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Thank you, Madam Minister.

We will now open the discussion and move to questions.

Mr. Berthold, the floor is yours for six minutes.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Welcome, Ms. Bibeau. Congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. May I dare to hope that, after a few weeks, you will say that the best job you have had is Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, not Minister of International Development. At the moment, agriculture is an absolutely fantastic area.

Madam Minister, we are happy that you are here. It has been almost six months since we have had a minister of agriculture and agri-food with us. You will understand that we have a lot of questions and that one hour will not be enough. So I will focus on certain points, especially the canola crisis, as I am sure you suspected.

It took three requests for an emergency meeting, nine requests for an emergency debate in the House, the involvement of farmers and provincial premiers, and of the leader of the official opposition, for the Prime Minister to finally understand the urgency to intervene in the canola crisis. On Monday, he raised the limit on loans made under the advance payments program.

What was the tone of the most recent conversation you, as the minister, had with Chinese authorities, with a view to finding a solution to the current crisis?

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Berthold, let me start by telling you that the canola file arrived on the first Tuesday after I took the position. It has been a priority for me, and for our government, since the first day.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Since that time, have you spoken to Chinese authorities about the canola crisis?

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

I sent a letter to my counterpart and I received a reply. This is done on a daily basis…

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

What was that reply, Ms. Bibeau?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

The reply is that we have to continue the discussions.

We have discussions…

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

So, you were not well received.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

…on a daily basis with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

You, personally, were not well received and you have had no discussions with Chinese authorities about the current canola crisis.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

I have had no discussions.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Are you ready to get on a plane today in order to meet with Chinese authorities and settle this crisis?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

Absolutely.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

What is stopping you from doing that? Are you going to do it? How are you going to go about this? Why are you not booking your plane tickets to go to China to settle the crisis?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

That is looking at the situation a little simplistically, Mr. Berthold. There is a working group and I am working very closely with my government colleagues.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Wanting to settle a crisis is not simplistic, Madam Minister. What farmers want…

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

Your solution is quite simplistic, Mr. Berthold.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

…is for you to help them, Ms. Bibeau.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

If you let me answer, I will be happy to do so.

I am working closely with my counterparts in the provinces, with industry leaders and with farmers’ representatives. We have formed a working group and, together, we are assessing all the options on the table and the best ways to proceed.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

So, let’s talk about that.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

The decision of our committee is to not hold a political meeting at this point.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Let’s talk about that, Ms. Bibeau. A growing number of experts, provincial ministers of agriculture and provincial premiums are asking Canada to be firmer with China. They feel that not taking a strong position with China only makes the situation worse. We saw that this morning, given what is happening in the pork industry. Every time we hesitate, the crisis grows.

A lot of people feel that the solution must also come from the political side. Are they all wrong?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC

We have a committee that, I believe, represents the industry and the major stakeholders in this matter very well. In addition, we have an action strategy and we are following it. In Canada, we set ourselves apart by maintaining international trade relations based on…