Agriculture Committee on June 12th, 2020

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We are listening, Mr. Clerk.

[The Clerk]

Here is what I got from Ms. Rood's proposal. First, we would add a meeting on June 23. The meeting planned for providing drafting instructions for the report on business risk management programs would be moved to July 8. Then the committee would meet on August 5 to consider the first version of the draft report, and it would be possible to adopt the report on August 19.

Did I understand correctly?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Yes, that's essentially what we have, so you're right, one June 23 we have the BRM meeting.

On July 8 we have drafting instructions, and then on August 5, version 1.

On August 19, we have version 2, if needed. Then as needed we would meet, but hopefully we'd be done by then; but if we need to, we could meet back again on September 2 and September 16.

That's essentially how it would work.

Is that good, Ms. Rood?

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

Yes, then we don't need the July 10 meeting.

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

Mr. Chair, may I add something?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We are listening, Mr. Perron.

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

That seems very complicated. My objective was for us to produce a report quickly, have a somewhat longer summer break and be very productive in the fall. In the proposal that was just made, I see only one inconvenience—that of holding a meeting on June 23. We may as well keep the schedule that was proposed at the outset, on which everyone seemed to agree.

I am sorry to waste your time, but it seems that we don't want to remove the August 5 meeting. So there is no problem, let's keep the initial schedule and not plan anything for June 23.

I am just trying to find a solution that would satisfy everyone, but that does not seem to be possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

It is indeed very difficult.

How many of you want to go with the last proposal? On June 23 we'll bring the meetings closer together, and at the end of the day we'll finish this earlier, effectively. How many of you are in favour of doing that, as proposed?

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

Mr. Chair, if we vote on proposals, we should perhaps do it in the order they were put forward. The proposal to remove August 5 and add June 23 should be voted on first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Let's ask that question, then.

To Mr. Perron's point, who wants to remove the meeting on August 5? How many of you want to remove that meeting and push everything further back? Can I see a show of—

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

Mr. Chair, can I comment, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Go ahead, Ms. Rood.

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

Monsieur Perron, if we move it up, have the June 22 meeting and omit the 10th, we have almost a whole month of break, until August 5, which is enough time for the analysts to do their work. It makes sense to do it this way. It's so we have a more fulsome break to give the analysts the time that they need. Then we can come back to the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Did you hear that, Mr. Perron? Does it change your opinion?

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

Yes, I heard. However, I would like to know what the others think, as I don't want to be seen as a troublemaker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I don't mind hearing everyone. I think we've been around a couple of times, but if anybody else has another suggestion, let's hear it.

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

That works for me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Perron, I did not understand.

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

In the beginning, my idea was to make sure there is a somewhat longer break during the summer. That would have benefited the staff and everyone.

Is my proposal to begin work earlier in the fall being considered or not? No one has followed up on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Perron, I have heard no comments on this, aside from yours. That leaves the door wide open.

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

I understand that my colleagues absolutely want us to meet every other week throughout the summer and that they don't want to resume business earlier in August or in early September, which would have enabled us to be productive.

Did I understand correctly? If I am the only one to propose it, I am okay with that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I think the fact of that we are meeting in June gives us....

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Go ahead, Mr. Blois.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Again, I'm not really partial one way or the other, but if we're adding a meeting on June 23, could we perhaps just move the meeting on August 5? That would be the trade-off. We can add June 23. That way we're still able to do our work while allowing Mr. Perron's suggestion about trying to support the staff to ensure that they have the time to do their work. Is that possible?