Evidence of meeting #87 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 crops.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Agricultural Producer, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens
No. The land has to be flat.
Representative, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens
When the land is slightly more sloped, the structures have to be installed in tiers.
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Agricultural Producer, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens
Our region was ideal for the method.
Liberal
Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd really like to thank the producers who are here today.
I am always so impressed when I listen to you, especially when I see how resilient you are in the face of the various climate change issues you have to deal with. You find solutions to the problems that arise in your environment. I am talking about not just problems related to climate change, but also all the problems you encounter every day. Again, I tip my hat to you.
Mr. Gauthier, my riding is also home to strawberry farms, in the Granby region. I have always thought we had the best strawberries in Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford, especially since one of our farms bears the name Roi de la fraise, or the strawberry king in English. I'll visit you on your island for a taste test. You're really a very nice person.
You mentioned the changes that do have their share of advantages, opening up opportunities for you. You also talked about the extended growing season. I am particularly interested in your production methods that have changed and the innovative solutions you have adopted, allowing you to increase your production and extend your growing season, despite climate change.
Could you elaborate on that for us?
General Manager, Les Fraises de l'Île d'Orléans inc.
As far as new production methods go, our focus has mainly been on high tunnels that are tailored to the eastern Canadian climate, which we developed in co-operation with a Quebec company. Companies in Ontario and western Canada also make these kinds of tunnels. The eastern Canadian climate is quite severe, however, given the spring and fall winds. As a result, we needed high tunnels that were better able to resist the wind. We also needed to be able to close the structure completely. Most high tunnels remain open in the front and back, making them more like shelters that provide protection from inclement weather and slightly more heat. In our region, though, we need more heat in the spring and fall. We needed a structure that would, at times, allow for more of a greenhouse effect in order to help the plants grow faster.
Liberal
Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC
Are the tunnels you talked about shelters, similar to small greenhouses?
General Manager, Les Fraises de l'Île d'Orléans inc.
They are big greenhouses, but the roof has to come off every winter, because the structure isn't made to bear the weight of snow. It's merely a temporary shelter, not just to protect the plants from precipitation, but also to retain the infrared radiation in the soil so that it spreads to all the crops to speed up production time.
Liberal
Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Gauthier.
Mr. Laflèche and Ms. Craiovan, I was very interested in what you said about the innovative solution you adopted in your region. Given what Mr. Poissant said, I'm realizing that it is in place elsewhere as well. What more do you think we could do to spread its use?
We talked about the financial and labour challenges. What could the government do? How could it be a better partner or ally to producers like you?
The need is there, and in light of the climate change issues we are experiencing, that need is only going to grow.
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Agricultural Producer, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens
I think the results need to be published.
The South Nation Conservation Authority has all the results, which have been published in journals and magazines.
People take an interest in this new way of conserving water in fields as soon as they see its benefits. Money talks, after all. They need to be told that their end-of-year harvest will be better and that, in the summer, hay fields will retain their root moisture. That is the way to do it. The government could introduce programs to make it easier for farmers, for instance, by offering subsidies.
This method of conserving water in fields is just one of many innovations. Over the years, farmers have adopted new farming practices. I own a plow, but I don't use it anymore. Plows were useful when all we had were ditches. For my father, it was important to plow properly so that the water would drain as it should. I no longer plow in the fall. Instead, I use an offset disc in the spring to keep as much organic matter in the soil as possible. That's another soil conservation method.
We look for new ways to keep organic matter in the field and moisture in the soil. Our research work was one of many projects.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Thank you, Mr. Laflèche and Mr. Breton.
That concludes the second hour of our meeting.
I'd like to thank our witnesses for their input this afternoon.
Mr. Gauthier, I hope there is enough snow on the Île d'Orléans to cover your strawberries so that they weather the winter well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Mr. Laflèche and Ms. Craiovan, thank you for being here today. Your remarks will certainly inform our report.
We will now suspend the meeting briefly before coming back to discuss a few things.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
We will now resume the meeting.
Thank you for your patience.
We are moving on to committee business.
I had a few items. There may be more.
First, I have a few reminders. Each party is invited to submit a list of the sites to visit, including their contact information, to the clerk of the committee no later than Thursday, February 8. If we are approved, then we'll have to submit that for final approval.
We're going to have instructions from the analyst for the drafting process of the report on the adaptation of climate change and water and soil conservation issues. We would need to have the recommendations sent by each party to the analysts before Wednesday, February 28. We will be given an outline on the 12th, and with that we can come up with our recommendations and submit them.
Are there any other matters to be brought forward?
Mr. Berthold.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Earlier I spoke to the clerk about our study on food inspection agencies. I submitted a pretty thorough list of all such agencies, thanks to Library of Parliament staff, who put together the list. I don't want to take all the credit. The analysts did a lot of research to build the list of agencies, which is very useful to have. I have no objection to making the list available to all committee members, if they would like.
Since we cannot hear from people at all those agencies, I think we should focus on the three major international agreements Canada has signed. We could invite officials from two agencies, that of the European Union and that of France, since both countries have comparable systems to Canada. The federal government here is focusing on the main points. France is working on its end. As far as cheeses go, understandably, France is the country that will be exporting cheese to Canada. I think it would be beneficial to hear from representatives of both of those agencies.
In terms of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, I thought the most relevant countries would be Japan and India. Given that both markets are very important to Canada, I think we should invite representatives from both of those national agencies. Of course, there is the U.S. Those are the five national agencies I think we should reach out to. We could invite the officials to appear before the committee, if they agree. We could ask them questions about their practices. The presentation by our own agency officials will provide some guidance for subsequent questions on the various procedures and practices.
If we hear from five representatives, I think one meeting would do it. We thought about holding two.
That is what I am proposing to the committee.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
Last week, you proposed that we do a study on mental health.
Would you have us do what you are suggesting today before or after that study?
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
There is no specific time frame. When the subcommittee met, we talked about meeting with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency first. It might be difficult to bring all five representatives together at the same time. I am open to conducting the studies when it is most timely. I don't expect us to complete one before the other.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
I'd like to move an amendment to what was proposed last week.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Earl, this is about your motion. It hasn't been...as yet, but I don't know if it's your intention to bring it up today or not.
Conservative
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer—Mountain View, AB
I'd be prepared to listen to a recommendation that the member might have. I assume that we would deal with this in a more fulsome manner later, but I'd certainly be interested in hearing what he would have to say.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Do you want to discuss the notice of motion before going any further? What would you like?
We can have a discussion about the motion even though it hasn't been passed, but on the notice of motion that has been tabled, is that how you'd like to proceed?
Conservative
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer—Mountain View, AB
My only point, and again, the main reason for me wishing to present it when I presented it, was because it was Bell Let's Talk Day. I know there's a lot of other important business that has to be dealt with, so it isn't my thought that we'd just jump right into it. You folks have been here much longer than me, so I'm not—
