Agriculture Committee on Nov. 30th, 2017

[Eva Nassif, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Thank you very much.

[Pierre Corriveau]

You're welcome.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mrs. Nassif.

Ms. Brosseau, you have three minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Earlier, I wanted to bring up something that we looked at in committee in the last Parliament. We've looked at this a few times in the last few years. It's PACA. When we talk about our relationship in NAFTA with the United States and Mexico and we meet with the horticultural sector, they remind us that during the election campaign we had all promised—all three parties, I think—to bring in PACA, which is about payment protection for these people who export to the States.

As the agriculture committee, we've written to the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Minister Bains, three times now, I think. The last time we wrote Minister Baines and copied Minister MacAulay—I wish I could have asked him this question, but I didn't have time—we didn't received a response.

I want to check with our chair and the clerk. Did we receive a response from either minister?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We did not.

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

No, and when we read the mandate letters the Prime Minister wrote to the ministers, we can see they enumerated quite a few things. One of them is to work closely with members of the opposition and the second party, to collaborate with them and not to be partisan. I think it's a shame that the agriculture committee has written two ministers on three different occasions and didn't even get a response.

We've done studies at committee, and we've spent a lot of time listening to witnesses. Experts have worked really hard in presenting and briefing the Department of Agriculture. I think now they're they're working with the other ministry.

It's very frustrating because we know how important this is. I don't think it would be really hard. I don't understand why there is all this foot-dragging. I would have liked to ask questions of the minister.

I was just wondering, Mr. Forbes or Mr. Corriveau, if you can update us. Do you know where this is at? Can you comment on PACA? Is there work being done between the two ministers' offices on this?

[Chris Forbes]

Certainly on issues like this we do collaborate with colleagues. I can't comment on the specifics of the letter itself, but we're aware of this issue. We've heard from stakeholders about it. As you say, we've had discussions with the private sector and with Innovation, Science and Economic Development, so other than saying that I can't personally comment on the letter, I think it's certainly an issue that we're aware of and we've done work on.

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

Okay. I have five seconds. I look forward to getting the information about the dairy farm investment program. It's always a pleasure having you at committee, but also, we never have enough time. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I know.

Thank you very much to Deputy Minister Forbes and Assistant Deputy Minister Corriveau for being with us today. We certainly appreciate it.

Members, before we leave, we'd like to have motions on adopting the supplementary estimates (B).

I'll go over every vote.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD

Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$8,143,482

Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$2,827,000

Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........$18,875,983

(Votes 1b, 5b, and 10b agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Yes.

Shall the chair report votes 1b, 5b, and 10b under Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

That is all. I thank you, everyone. The meeting is adjourned.