Agriculture Committee on Nov. 30th, 2017

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We continue to work and collaborate with international organizations. We have and we'll continue to do more, because it makes—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Do you believe it is a worthwhile use of $3 million of taxpayers' money to send foreigners to foreign conferences?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We work together with foreign countries—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

It's a yes-or-no question, Minister. Is it good value for taxpayers' money?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

If you're going to ask.... You're a good McCauley, but when you ask the question, you let somebody answer the question.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Generally, that's the way it works.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

But I asked a yes-or-no question: do you believe it's a good use of taxpayers' money?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Yes, I do.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Okay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I believe collaboration with other countries is very important. What we need to do is make sure that we continually collaborate with other countries and also—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Shouldn't other countries fund that, though?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

—aid other countries in order to make sure we can work with them.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Do foreign countries send us money—

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That's what we have done, and that's what we will continue to do.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Do foreign countries send us money to send Canadians to Canadian conferences?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Not in—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

The answer is no.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

—the agricultural sector.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Let me ask you a question.

Recently, your government cut funding to an initiative to improve autism services. It was about $4 million a year.

Do you think it's a better use of taxpayers' money to send foreigners to foreign conferences rather than funding autism services? Is that a better use of taxpayers' money?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Well, I don't want to be.... I don't know if we're distantly related or not, but the fact is that autism is really not in my jurisdiction. What—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

No, but the question is about the $3 million.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

What I'm trying to tell you, with some difficulty, is that what we do is work with other countries in order to make sure we collaborate with other countries. We do help other countries, and we do help students in other countries, which is not inappropriate.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Which students are we sending and from what countries? Do we know? This was asked, actually, on November 17, 2016. That was over a year ago. We still haven't gotten an answer back from the government. Which students from what countries are we sending?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We will be sure you receive the answer.