Evidence of meeting #6 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 program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Truly, when you bring that forward, it's not only her who hears it. It's important that you bring this forward and indicate that there is a problem. It's no different.... It's question period, not answer period.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Well, I think it should be answer period.
Let's try to get some answers. When it comes to diafiltered milk, the dairy producers also believe that you're the person they should go to for a solution. Today, you've said and have made it very clear that you don't have an answer, and that you don't believe you're the person who will find the answer, that it's somebody else who will do that for you.
We've heard from everybody that they assume you'll be the guy who will fix this. Are we to hear today that you don't have an answer and you don't intend to fix this?
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
I would be awfully disappointed if you felt that I couldn't do something, but the fact is, as I've explained here and as to how the process is working and what's happened, I think you are fully aware that this is an issue that I inherited. It has escalated substantially in the last two years, and I guess there was a fair bit of pressure on governments over that period of time. I've indicated clearly to you what's taking place. The processors and the industry are in discussion and the—
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
We heard from them last week. They seemed to indicate that the solution was in your office and that if you would just sign the solution, we'd all be taken care of, but obviously there's some miscommunication. We'll try to get that transcript of that meeting to you just so you can hear as well what we heard.
Minister, you have a number of staff positions that you've filled in terms of assisting you in hearing from farm families and—
Liberal
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
There are different groups. This is what I'm indicating to you. There are different groups, different provinces, and different things being said. You can bring I don't care what transcript—and I know that if it's said here, it's a transcript—and I'd be pleased to look at it at any time. As you know, there are different views, but what I'm trying to say is that I'm not trying to do anything except resolve the issue in the most productive way possible. When we hear from all sectors, then hopefully we will be able to resolve this issue.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
The dairy producers are looking for your leadership on this, and I know that you're a busy man, but hopefully you can lend your time to that as well.
Produce growers across the country are concerned about the necessity to resolve the PACA issue with the United States for exports to the United States. Are you aware of this? When it comes to exports to the United States, have you lobbied the industry minister to correct and to resolve the issue for those producers who would like that protection in the months to come?
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Well, of course you're aware that we did have a special deal, and your government lost that special deal.
Conservative
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Minister, there was a commitment made by I think all parties to resolve this. Now, you won the big prize, which means that you have to do the job—
Conservative
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
But also, you have to accept what you accept, and I accepted the diafiltered milk issue, and I accepted what took place on this, and yes, I will deal with each and every case as well as I can.
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Can we expect that the PACA issue will be resolved tomorrow in the budget?
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
That the PACA issue will be resolved tomorrow in the documents that will accompany the budget...?
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
You would have to ask the Minister of Finance, and I think you're fully aware—
Conservative
Chris Warkentin Conservative Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB
Have you lobbied the minister for this issue to be resolved in the budget tomorrow?
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
As for what I've done with the minister, I have certainly brought the discussion to the minister and to a number of ministers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
We're just done. Thank you very much, Mr. Warkentin.
Mr. Longfield, you have six minutes.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Minister, it's great having you here. It's wonderful to see you and all your staff again. I think we're all trying to work together to solve issues around agriculture and agrifood for Canada and our economy and for the people who are feeding families here and around the world.
I have a question from both sides of the farm gate, if you will, where we're looking at our trade. We're looking at our efficiencies within Canada and, on the producer side, at using science in trying to increase production with less inputs. You've covered that well in your introductory remarks.
There are also cases of around 40% of food being wasted in the supply chain and at consumers' tables. How can we use big data on that side of the farm gate in terms of science and analyzing what's going on in order to be as efficient as we can be on that side of the gate, and then on the processor side of the gate as well, in saying that it's a business that we're trying to run here?
As a country, we're trying to have our businesses be efficient, cost-controlled, and competitive, and we need to bring that together with the provinces, which, as you know, is a challenge sometimes, but I think you've done well. You were in Guelph last week and you met with the provincial and federal organizations, producers, and farm associations. We even had some farmers there who were talking about their challenges.
Maybe you could expand on how you see your department working on these market opportunities in using the scientific information that we have available on both sides of the gate, and then trying to pull it together with the provinces and the different stakeholders. That's not an easy question for six minutes, but could you highlight what you're seeing so far from your talks?
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
Are you talking about within Canada, or outside of Canada, or both?