Agriculture Committee on June 12th, 2020

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I guess my side of it is that once we've decided on which days for the meetings we're going to have, it's easier to drop them later than to try to reschedule. On keeping the August 5 one, that's the first time that we'll actually see the completed report, when we can start making decisions on it, so to me that's probably one of the more important dates to keep for future, rather than to drop that one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Soroka.

I don't know if there are any other comments.

Go ahead, Ms. Rood.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm being told that there's potentially an availability on the 22nd and 23rd to sit, so perhaps we could inquire into that. That might move it up and give the analysts extra time to get this prepared so we can finish this off before July.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

That's another option that we can put on the floor if you wish. I guess at this stage there are all kinds of ways we can move forward, but we need to have a decision. We've heard different options. I can put three options on the floor.

I guess we'll start with—

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Chair, may I speak?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We are listening, Mr. Perron.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Perhaps we could reach consensus on something if we took everyone's proposals into consideration. Maybe we could hold a vote.

Ms. Rood made a very relevant comment on dealing with and finishing the report quickly. I think most of the stakeholder will agree with that. I do not object to us sitting more in June, on the contrary. As I said at the second meeting, the important thing is for us not to sit on June 24.

So the August 5 meeting could be cancelled. There is some confusion about the other meetings. Will those meetings be cancelled if the report is completed?

During the subcommittee's discussions, we talked about wanting to remain available in case of emergencies during the summer. I think it is important to be available should we need to meet. Mr. Lehoux and I mentioned that we would like to hold other meetings. We want to be productive, and we don't want to miss any meetings.

So I would opt for Ms. Rood's solution, as it would enable us to do everything at the same time. We would hold meetings until the end of June and would cancel the August 5 meeting. In September, we could meet twice a week. I think that would satisfy everyone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I am checking the schedule. I will come back with an answer in a few seconds.

That is a possibility if we book those days. We could potentially sit on June 22 and 23. I know that's cutting it close to Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, but for those days, we could probably book them. Then we could cancel the August 5 meeting, but we would still have to sit for one meeting in July, I think, to complete the six BRM meetings we have in our motion to study BRM...two meetings in July. Do I see a leaning towards maybe getting this done early and taking those two days in June and...?

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Yes. Those two days in June, June 22 and 23, one or the other. I guess it's just one or the other, which would cut the August 5 meeting and I guess buy us more time if we need it at the end.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Chair, I think that today was our third meeting on the BRM study, meaning that we need to have at least three more. If we get two done next week, that's really only going to leave one more that we have to do during the week of June 22. I think that satisfies the motion for this study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Yes, so that would be one and a half next week, because we do have an hour taken. Yes, you're right. That would meet it.

Are we good to try to get at this as much as we can in June, on June 22 or 23, then add one more in July and then cut August 5? Is that where everybody wants to go? Are there any issues with meeting a bit more heavily towards the end of June, with one more meeting in June, and then cutting the August one? Is that okay? I don't see any opposed, so I think that's what we'll do if—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Go ahead, Ms. Rood.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Perhaps if we finish it in July, maybe we only need to have the August 5 meeting so the report is completed and then we wouldn't have to have the 19th. It could be perhaps tabled in August at one of the sittings of the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

The problem is for the analyst to be able to add all of the updates and have the translation and everything done.

Corentin, do you want to chime in on this? Would that work on your end?

We are listening, Mr. Bialais.

[Corentin Bialais, Committee Researcher]

I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost in the calendar.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

The last request was to still meet in...Ms. Rood, you said August.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

If we add the June 22 or 23 meeting, that would essentially bump up the rest of the schedule so the drafting meeting on July 10 would bump up to the 8th.

We just move it up. The 5th was supposed to be the first BRM report. If we could do it, would it be ready at that point because we're adding that extra meeting? If we can get through that report then perhaps we don't need the August 19 meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I've rarely seen it done in just one meeting, but it could happen.

Would that give you enough time, Corentin, to do the draft if that was the case?

[Corentin Bialais]

Yes, we will have enough time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

That would be good?

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

I think it would be better to get this report done as soon as possible so it can be tabled as soon as possible instead of leaving time in the middle when we could be finishing it and getting it submitted. Maybe we don't need the September 2 meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Okay, I'm drafting a new one.

The new calendar would look like this.

June 23 would be a BRM meeting.

July 8 would be instructions and drafting.

July 10 would be version 1. Would that be too close, Corentin?

[Corentin Bialais]

Yes, that's very close. We need more than one week for the translation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Then we'd have to move the July 10 meeting.