Agriculture Committee on Sept. 28th, 2017

Evidence of meeting #70 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 chicken.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

A Food Policy for Canada

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Nick Saul President and chief executive officer, Community Food Centres Canada

David J. Connell Associate Professor, Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, As an Individual

Evan Fraser Director, Arrell Food Institute, University of Guelph, As an Individual

Claire Citeau Executive Director, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance

Rebecca Lee Executive Director, Canadian Horticultural Council

Mike Dungate Executive Director, Chicken Farmers of Canada

Linda Delli Santi Chair, Greenhouse Vegetable Committee, Canadian Horticultural Council

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

How much do you think we lose yearly because of this insolvency? It's in the millions, it's like $20 million we lose a year because we don't have this in place. Is that right?

5:15 p.m.

Executive Director, Canadian Horticultural Council

Rebecca Lee

I couldn't tell you. I would have to get back to you with that.

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

It's okay. I met with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers this morning. It's about $20 million we lose and it could be hundreds of jobs a year.

I would like to check with the clerk. Did we get any kind of letter back from the Minister of Agriculture or the Minister of Innovation?

No? Is it possible for us to write them again, or that we check?

This is two letters we've sent as a committee. I just wonder if they got them. I don't know.

Mr. Poissant, I don't know. Has he got them? Is he taking this issue seriously? It's important. We talked about this during the election campaign and we have talked about this multiple times. We have been talking about this for years at committee and in the House.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Ms. Brosseau, do you want to make a motion about that?

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Yes. I would like to put forward a motion that we rewrite a letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Innovation about PACA, and that we put a timeline on it, not just get back to us, but get back to us in 45 days, or soon. We have never had a response from either minister. It's really frustrating. I don't think they are taking this seriously.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Mr. Drouin, you have the floor.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

I'd like to make an amendment. The reason we wrote to the Minister of ISED was that it's his file. Again, if we write to the Minister of Agriculture, no problem, but he will only write to us and say, “Great, follow up with Minister Bains.”

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Okay, that's fine.

We should have Minister Bains come to committee. I think he should come to the agriculture committee and learn about PACA.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Do you want to make a motion—

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Yes.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

So we have an amendment to the motion. You made the motion that we write the Minister of Agriculture. We have an amendment to the motion.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Yes, I think we should send it directly to Minister Navdeep Bains and we send a copy to the Minister of Agriculture, because we never got a response from the first letter, June 6, 2016.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Is that your amendment, Mr. Drouin?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Well, if Madame Brosseau says that we just write to the Minister of ISED, then I don't have an amendment. If she says that we're writing to both ministers, then I have an amendment to say that it should only be to the Minister of ISED.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

What do you guys think?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

We write to the Minister of ISED, we have an amendment that, instead of writing to the Minister of Agriculture. That's the amendment.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC

I agree with Ms. Brosseau that we should at the very least copy the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The first letter was sent to that minister and he never answered it. Even if it is not his file, he could let us know.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Exactly. As long as we send the letter to Minister Bains, and we send a copy to the Minister of Agriculture, maybe the third time will be the good luck charm, and we will get something.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

We have a motion, and then an amendment on the table.

Do you have another comment?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

A copy is fine.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

That's what I meant, a copy.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

We send a copy to the Minister of Agriculture on the amendment.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Yes.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Okay, so we write a letter to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Mr. Bains, and copy Mr. MacAulay, the Minister of Agriculture.

Are we ready for the vote?

(Motion agreed to)

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

Do I have any more time?