Agriculture Committee on Feb. 24th, 2016

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

I think it would be a full hour. If we had one hour on supplementary estimates, I'd love to have the minister here for that. We would want officials here at least. If the minister is unavailable for that meeting, that would be fine. We expect the minister will come here on his mandate, and he'll be expected to come here on the estimates. We can invite the minister, and if he can't be available, we can at least have the officials here for one hour, and then have the subcommittee meeting.

We'll leave it to you, though, Chair, to determine which day works for which, based on the availability of other witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Are we in agreement?

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

Yes. Maybe the subcommittee can meet first thing on the 7th when we're back, for one hour, and then in the second hour.... I'm not sure we'll have time to go into the supplementary estimates.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

I think that would be sufficient time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Is everybody in agreement for the 7th, and we can have the other...?

Ms. Brosseau.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I totally agree that we should move forward with what was proposed, but I just hope that we could still follow through with an evaluation and more talk on CFIA afterwards, after the TPP thing. I know we studied CETA in the agriculture committee, and we did a report with recommendations. It is going to be important to go over it. It's important for the agricultural sector to look at the positives and the negatives for dairy. However, CFIA is a big issue that I think we need to look at for Canadians and for agriculture and our farmers. We need to make sure they are staffed adequately and what not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Okay, so we have the—

[Joe Peschisolido, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Could we do all three?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We're good for the 7th, and then we'll have a subcommittee meeting to decide when we'll bring them in. Are we all good on that?

Alaina.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

When we get back to milk protein, somewhere down the road, I think the Canada Border Services Agency should also be part of that panel, too.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We have a lot of work to do. Just to make the job a little bit easier, should we try to invite them on the 9th to look at milk protein?

[Pierre Breton, Liberal, Shefford, QC]

I'd like to raise one last point.

With regard to milk proteins, do we suggest witnesses for March 9?

How does that work?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Are we all in agreement? Okay, so be it. I think for today we all have other meetings.

Please send in any witnesses' names you have, and we will see how many we can entertain.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

I just want to ask that the clerk distribute any correspondence to the committee to all members of the committee. My vice-chair and I share responsibilities in many capacities, and it would be nice if we could get that correspondence sent directly to each member. I think it's helpful for every member to get any correspondence that comes to the chair.

I'd appreciate that. Thanks so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Do we have a motion to adjourn?

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

I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, everyone.

Have a good constituency week. We'll see you on the 7th.

The meeting is adjourned.