Evidence of meeting #6 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 programs.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Chris Forbes  Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Christine Walker  Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Colleen Barnes  Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

5:20 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

I think the Canadian agricultural partnership allows the provinces to use the amounts for these types of programs.

5:25 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC

I'll come back to topic of slaughter. It was raised earlier, but it hasn't been talked about much so far. It's still a big problem for many Quebec producers. We have talked about slaughterhouses that could be closed because of certain standards, but it's also often a question of profitability.

As part of the amendments and the coming into force of the new animal transport regulations, the minister announced a two-year deferral on penalties. I know that studies are being done on the real impact of these regulations. I will ask two brief questions.

Couldn't we support the creation of new slaughterhouses? Are you going to take into account the findings of the studies that are under way once we have them?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

As I told Mr. Drouin and Mr. Blois, we will always work with the sector if there are investment proposals in the processing sector. We are always willing to work with the stakeholders to see whether programs can help them.

Second, with regard to—

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Thank you, Mr. Forbes. I'll have to cut you off there, because it's Mr. MacGregor's turn.

Mr. MacGregor, you have the floor.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Thank you, Chair.

Our supply-managed farmers have taken three successive hits with the last three trade deals losing parts of our domestic market share to foreign competition. In August 2019, the government made mention of the $1.75-billion fund. I think that's happening over eight years to help supply-managed dairy producers.

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

Dairy producers. Yes.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Is that only for CETA and CPTPP? It's not for CUSMA.

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

Indeed, it's just for the two.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

How will CUSMA be factored in? What about our poultry and egg producers? What's going on with them?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

I will go back to what the minister said. There has been a lot of work done on looking at the impacts with the sector. I think the next question is that they will be programming the full and fair compensation that the government's committed to, and that will come when it's announced by the government. I can't tell you any more than that.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Do you not have a timeline on where it is right now?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

It's a bit like Mr. Parent's question. I can't tell you when.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

All right. I get it.

Can you tell me how the $1.75 billion was calculated?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

The $1.75 billion was calculated based on work that was done with the dairy producers. The first tranche, the $345 million, that payment has already been made largely, I think, by the end of this fiscal year. About 95% or 96% of the payments have already gone.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Is it a direct cash transfer to the producers?

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

It's a direct cash transfer. How the subsequent years will be rolled out will be determined with dairy producers.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

That's about it, Chair.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Thank you, everyone.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Would it be okay if I ask one really quick question?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan

Sure.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

It's not controversial in any way, shape or form.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

It's never controversial.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Never.

Sorry, Mr. Forbes. I forgot to ask. We know that the front-of-package labelling was in the health minister's mandate letter. Is there any word on when or if that is actually going to be coming through?

The reason I ask is that it has been listed by the United States as a potential trade irritant. We all know that the President of the United States is very unpredictable. I would be very cautious to be adding a trade irritant right now as we go through CUSMA.

Do you have any idea when and if this may come? I know that's a Health Canada issue.

5:25 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Chris Forbes

Yes, and I can't speak to it. It's similar. I can't really speak to specific timing other than to say that we work pretty closely with Health Canada and Global Affairs to understand all the issues around the proposals that were on the table and how they might change.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Thank you.