Agriculture Committee on Oct. 3rd, 2017

Evidence of meeting #71 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 health.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

A Food Policy for Canada

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Irena Knezevic Vice-President, Canadian Association for Food Studies

Sylvie Cloutier Chief Executive Officer, Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec

Carla Ventin Vice-President, Federal Government Affairs, Food and Consumer Products of Canada

Cam Dahl President, Cereals Canada

Pat Vanderkooy Manager, Public Affairs, Food and Nutrition, Dietitians of Canada

Gordon Bacon Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Canada

5:10 p.m.

Manager, Public Affairs, Food and Nutrition, Dietitians of Canada

Pat Vanderkooy

What I was showing was the cost to society. It would be $68 billion, if you do the accounting PHAC's way, and if you're really specific to the health care system, then it would be $26 billion.

Specifically the agri-food industry, where a lot of the sugars, salts, and fats are added with the way food is processed—it's not grown that way but those extra things are added to it—brings in a revenue injection of $21 billion. So I'm talking about the revenue injection versus what society is paying for at large, and that's where the whole of government comes in. We have government paying for health care on the one hand, and on the other hand, we're celebrating a cash-revenue injection but we're forgetting that it's related to diseases and other concerns.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

You had your six minutes. We said 5:15 and I think we're already there. We're going to have to finish.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Joe Peschisolido Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC

Thank you.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

I know Ms. Cloutier wanted to ask a question, but I invite you to maybe consult with the panel.

I want to thank the panel so much for being here. It was very interesting.

Mr. Dahl, Ms. Vanderkooy, and also Mr. Bacon, thank you for your input on this important study.

The meeting is adjourned.