Evidence of meeting #32 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 need.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Thank you.
We'll now move to Mr. Shields, or whoever is first.
Mr. Shields, you can have two and a half minutes or you can to split your time with Mr. Motz.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the opportunity to ask questions.
I'll just comment on the online meeting we had with the CFIA. It was an informational meeting and they said that there were 500 head being tested today. With Mr. Henry, I was able to confirm that nobody has seen anywhere near that number, nor the capacity to do it. We did talk with them about some of the information that we were given, which was totally erroneous in terms of what was happening on the ground. It was totally false.
We have 36 businesses going broke in our community. If 36 businesses were to go broke in your community, there would be an uproar. That's what's happening here.
When they talk about the subsidy programs that are out there, this is a one-off. This is different from any of the programs that exist out there. The province is slow coming to the table because they have to work with the feds. When you talk about those programs, how frustrated are you with those ones that exist?
When people say, “Ah, you've got—”
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Yes, it's just not there. People keep pointing and saying, “Those programs are there. Go apply for them.” That's not this situation. Those programs don't match this situation, and they can't resolve it. Something different has to be put in place, or 36 businesses are gone.
You don't go to Walmart, Mr. Osadczuk, and buy a new herd of cattle, do you? It's not there. That's a generational business with a generational herd.
10:40 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, we're a 100-year-old ranch, and most of the ranches in our community are close to a century old. It's taken that long to build up these businesses. It's not as simple as just going to the store and buying a new one. It doesn't work that way.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Brad, Warren, and Ross, thank you for taking the time today. We recognize the difficulty this is creating for your families and the impact on your community.
For each of you, I'd like to ask just one question. In an ideal world, what would each of you like to see most or need most right now to make this work for everyone?
I'll start with you, Brad.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
We need to get this resolved, and as fast as we can. Every day and every week that it moves on just makes the anxiety worse. Our lives aren't eight to five for five days a week, and then we start again on Monday; this stuff goes on every day. We need a resolution as soon as possible.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, we need help on these calves right away. We're short with all our money that we should have brought in this fall. The feed costs on all these are going to destroy us. There's no guarantee we can sell these cattle for anything more than what we got them for right now. In my herd, I'm probably running $300,000 to $500,000 a month in feed costs on the whole herd right now. I can't survive very long. I'll be broke by spring.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
They have to speed up the process and get the testing under way. For us, it's not quite so bad because we have already had them tested, so we can get our cows out to winter pasture, but we still incur the cost of feeding the calves. All we want to do is sell our calves, that's the bottom line. As long as we get our cheques, we can make some payments.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Unfortunately, we're going to have to end this. There are people going to other committees.
I want to thank everyone for their testimony, telling us the real story on the ground. Hopefully, we can get some action.
Thank you to the committee.
The meeting is adjourned.
