Agriculture Committee on Nov. 30th, 2017

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Is everybody happy with the $350 million?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Money and time are two things that seem to be short in government. That's what I meant, but this program was something that was put together that way and I think you know that. Also, I appreciate your concern, your genuine concern, for supply management.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I have to be a strong voice for farmers, especially when they are getting significant losses because of these trade deals and the government not protecting the border.

Can you tell us also what is the total amount of money that's been allocated to Quebec producers, please?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That's information that each province.... It's allocated by quota. That's how it's allocated.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes. Can you tell us on what date the program will open again? It's a five-year program.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

No, I cannot tell you that. The process.... That date has not been established yet.

Chris.

[Chris Forbes]

We haven't figured out an exact relaunch date, but we think it will be in the next couple of months, so the second phase would be sometime in the new year.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

How many applications have been received so far?

[Chris Forbes]

There were over 2,500 for the first round. I don't have a breakdown by province.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Minister, can you confirm that there will be more funding for this program?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

The $250 million will be spent through the dairy farmers, and $100 million will be spent in the processing sector.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Will there be more money?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Not through this program.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Okay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I'd like to respond to what you had to say about the border. As an example, when we formed government there were more spent fowl coming into this country from the U.S. than there were spent fowl in the U.S.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I know that Ms. Brosseau is fully aware of that.

We have curbed that some, but not totally. We are continually working on that and trying to have a plan in place to make sure we can identify what it is that comes in.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

You've been in government for two years exactly.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

That's right, and we have made some progress.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Where are you at on the DNA testing?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

What has to happen is something that's efficient at the border—

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Yes.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

—and it has not been established whether DNA can be used, because you cannot have a shipment at the border and then send something to the lab and then have it come back. The experts are working to make sure we have an efficient, fast identification process at the border. It's not established yet, but it will be.

[Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Will your government commit to supporting financially the review of maintenance of the Canadian organic standards? We're at a disadvantage compared to other trading countries?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We have supported organic agriculture. I think it's over $15 million that we have already allocated to the organic farmers. I have met with them—