Agriculture Committee on May 16th, 2019

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

Well, if that's the way you want it, Mr. Chair, I'll move a motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Sure, no problem.

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

Thank you. That way I'll have time to talk about it.

The motion reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee invite the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to discuss her trip to the G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting in Japan and update the Committee on her discussions with the Chinese Agriculture Minister regarding the canola trade crisis, and that the Minister be invited to appear for two hours on or before May 21, 2019.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Any comments?

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

As I said, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, made a statement a few minutes ago about the state of Canada-China relations. I will reread the information, which I have here in English.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that China's government is not playing by the same kinds of rules after China's authorities formally arrested two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.

Last week, we asked the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food if she intended to schedule an official meeting with her Chinese counterpart to talk about problems with forms and the canola file. The minister replied that she intended to stand up for canola producers.

We learned that she had an informal introductory meeting with her Chinese counterpart. Unfortunately, we have just the one version. The minister didn't tell us what happened during the meeting. What information did she get from the Chinese agriculture minister? Did she manage to arrange for a delegation of experts to go to China or not? We don't have that information. All we have is a press release saying that she had an introductory meeting with him. That's all. I think it's important for the committee to be updated on the developing situation with China.

We want diplomatic relations with China, but we still don't have an ambassador to China. We still haven't taken steps with the World Trade Organization to show that we aren't going to let ourselves be pushed around for technical reasons.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials have assured us that they are 100% confident in the quality of the tests and the canola that was sent to China. The canola we sent to China was good. All we're asking is to send a delegation of experts to China. Unfortunately, we made that request a month ago, and China seems to have completely ignored it.

Last week, the Prime Minister acknowledged that this is a political crisis. Now he's acknowledging not only that it's a political crisis, but also that China seems to be playing by two sets of rules. I'm saying what we've been told.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Chinese government is not playing by the same kinds of rules.

For all those reasons, it's important that the committee invite the Minister to appear by May 21. We are quite prepared to meet that day.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Berthold.

Mr. Dreeshen, you may go ahead.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Again, the canola trade crisis is critical. Here we have a situation that's been going on for months. We have heard very little. We've had to go to the trade committee in order to talk about this particular issue. When we're talking about trade, two of the critical countries that we deal with are China and the U.S. There was a time when Canada was that go-to country that China would come to talk to if it wanted to discuss things about the U.S. If the U.S. wanted to talk about things relating to China, they would come through us.

Right now we're like a mosquito to both of them. We don't really seem to be a significant part of it. Both of these things do not deal with issues like carbon taxes, and so on. Here we are in a situation where we do not respect our agricultural producers that have done such a great job. But I think it's time now that we move on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Shipley.

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

I think that when producers hear that we have not received visas for our diplomatic corps, our ministers in this case, to go to talk to the Chinese.... The ag minister is coming here, but this is about trade. We heard today that it's all about trade and it's all about Global Affairs getting action and that the minister did have an introductory meeting, whatever that means.

I ask that we go to a vote and that it be a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Drouin, you may go ahead.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I read this, I find it a bit curious that the Conservatives are moving these motions when their own leader has suddenly come out with a foreign policy statement. Of course, we all have Canadians' best interests at heart. Normally, the official opposition always supports Canada's position. I think it's shameful that they are using these issues for political gain.

It doesn't help the negotiations when the leader of the official opposition announces to countries that he doesn't want free trade agreements with them. Our message would be a whole lot more convincing to our partners if we put on our Canada hat instead of our partisan hat.

I would remind the committee that the Minister will be appearing on June 6. My fellow member could ask her all the questions he likes then. He asks questions from time to time. It took him a while to ask about the canola issue, but he finally did.

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

You never wanted to have a meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Unfortunately, our time is up.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

My fellow member Mr. Shipley requested a vote. Why aren't we having a vote?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

A vote can't be requested. It requires unanimous consent, and we don't have it.

Thank you, Mr. Gaspar, Mr. Komal and Ms. Barnes.

Thank you so much for being here. It's been very enlightening.

The meeting is adjourned.