Evidence of meeting #3 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
There are three individuals. Only one needs to speak. There's the executive director from the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, and then there are two farmers. I think one would be applicable under the BRM and one wouldn't.
I just see it as a great opportunity to get people from that end of the country here in Ottawa at low cost to the committee while they're here.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
We could split the panel, too. We could keep a couple of officials there, and the farmers. Sometimes that's a good mix.
Go ahead, Mr. MacGregor.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
I just have a quick comment. It also gives us now a two-week breathing window to come up with a proper list for when we return after our constituency week next week.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Mr. Perron, did you have a question? No, I see you didn't.
Ms. Rood, you have the floor.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Lianne Rood Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
I was just going to add that if we're attending the reception tonight, there are perhaps other individuals we may come across who may be in town from another province that is further away. We could talk to them as well.
Perhaps we want to fill that second hour not just with folks from Nova Scotia. There may also be some folks around from New Brunswick or P.E.I. whom we could have here as well.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Usually there is a maximum of four or five witnesses. We can split it, for sure. It's an option.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Yes, I'm all for it.
The only thing I would caution is that we make sure things are aligned. I'd say they'll have to check with their national organization. The last thing we want are dissenting views from farmers, because we have to make our recommendation based on the witnesses, so if there are dissenting views within their own farming community.... I just want to be careful about that.
The second point I want to make is that we should put priority on at least getting a briefing first, so we all understand collectively what the department has to face. I would suggest that the first hour would be departmental briefing at least. If we meet some folks later this afternoon or whatnot, we can invite them for the second hour or for 45 minutes.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
If you invite them, I think we can share the motion, just so they understand what the parameters of the motion are.
We could have the Library of Parliament write a short synopsis of the study, based on the motion. Again, the motion is basically the framework of what we want to do here, and we can inform....
As I understand, we're going to bring in the government officials for the first hour. We'll wait to hear from Mr. Blois if there are witnesses and others for the second hour. You can contact the clerk ASAP.
As for the rest of the witnesses....
Monsieur Perron.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
I'd like to make sure that we understand each other.
Are you inviting government officials on Thursday as well? Did we not discuss inviting just the witnesses who were in Ottawa on Thursday, even if it means finishing earlier, and inviting the government representatives to the next session? I wouldn't want to run out of time for the government representatives, who can explain to us what's in place now.
Is that what's being proposed? I seem to have heard that you're proposing both panels on Thursday.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Yes, we made this suggestion because a lot of people are in town for the annual meeting of the Canadian federation. Nothing prevents us from inviting public servants again. They can always come to the committee if, halfway through....
5 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
I just want to make sure we're not running out of time. The last time we talked about today's very tight deadline for sending the letter.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
It may not have seemed like it, but every time my time was up, I had four or five more questions to ask. If we want to go deeper, have a comprehensive understanding and make intelligent recommendations, I think we need to take the time.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
As for the letter, the deadline had not been set by us. In this case, we decide on the duration of the meetings.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
We will be able to invite the government representatives back and it will not be a big deal.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Yes, we can invite them back at any time. You can get back to us on that by tomorrow.
You can get back to us if there are some people in town you'd like to see.
As for the witnesses for next week, it would be great if we could have them by the end of this week, which is Friday, so get on your witness list and see if you can suggest anyone.
Monsieur Drouin.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Chair, in terms of witnesses, I know we will most likely invite some of the same folks. Can we leave it up to the discretion of the clerk? If the Liberals and the Conservatives suggest the same witness, then we invite the same witness, but if there happens to be a disagreement—which there won't be, obviously—how would we decide on witnesses? What's the step forward? How does this committee want to proceed?
Committees work differently, so I just want to make sure we....
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
What we've done in the past, and what seems to be working on other committees, is that the first choice would go to the parties as represented in the committee, the official opposition, etc. If there are similar witnesses, then obviously both people would be happy, but then the next choice would fall in the same order as the composition of the committee.
That's the standard way of doing it, but it can be up to the committee.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
It will come down to the same thing, because it is the composition of the committee that will decide that.
5 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Yes, this is proportional to the composition of the committee.
Make sure to list witnesses in order of preference in the list you submit.
Put your first choice and second choice. Rank them in that order so that our clerk knows the ones you want in first, second, or third—by Friday, if you can. Again, sometimes it takes a long time and we have to go down the list. If you have contact details—sometimes they have them, but sometimes they don't—like phone number, email and the person who represents that organization, then include those.
Is there any other discussion?
I don't know if we have anything else that we haven't covered for procedure.
I will just confirm that the letter has gone. It was sent to the trade committee, and they have it in hand. We did our jobs. Thank you so much.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
We have a motion to adjourn. Thank you, Mr. Ellis.
If there is nothing else, we shall adjourn.
