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.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
One of the common themes I see both from our younger farmers and also from the women I talk to is they want to get into more organic farming. Are there any specific programs that you want to expand on?
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
There are a few things. With the broad financial and other programs that are out there, we do support the organic sector through, for example, our agriscience clusters. We have an organic research agenda there that we support the sector in. We've certainly worked with the sector in terms of supporting renewal and strengthening organic standards for Canada, which is obviously important for the sector for building its brand. There's that kind of work that we do, both on the research side and helping to set the frame, the standards, for the sector.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Ms. Walker? No? I just don't want to shut you out of the conversation.
Ultimately, there are a lot of environmental concerns, especially with the younger farmers I'm talking to. They're very open to new technologies, open to being environmentally conscious, but there's a bit of a barrier to entry already as far as price is concerned, and they want to make sure they do things properly. Are there specific programs, not necessarily to help youth, but environmental programs that would help farming itself make the transition?
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Yes, there's lots of interesting programming. We have the agricultural greenhouse gases program, which is looking at researching innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gases. We do funding through provincial programming. We've just, over the last year, launched something called the living labs initiative with our researchers. There are a couple of sites so far across Canada where we're working with.... It's kind of farmer-driven, if you will. Instead of having the scientists come in and start telling you the solution to your problem, it's actually the farmers identifying some of the challenges they may have on a range of environmental and other issues and then the scientists and others building a research agenda around how we might most efficiently.... It takes a kind of cost-effective approach to looking at solutions to some of the challenges that a farmer might face. That's an interesting new program.
Liberal
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you very much for staying with us a few minutes longer.
I'll try to get more details. That's what we said to each other during the break.
We are in the process of reviewing business risk management programs. It was mentioned a few times that the provinces should participate because the programs are often 60-40, and so on.
Has the department considered restoring an asymmetrical program that could be voluntary, so as not to penalize certain sectors? Our fear, particularly in Quebec with the Union des producteurs agricoles, is that the reforms will be more timid than necessary, because some provinces with fewer financial resources will not want to follow suit.
Have you considered the possibility that it be voluntary for the provinces? That way, the sectors wouldn't be penalized.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
The sectors or the regions?
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
We are trying to keep it consistent between the federal and provincial governments. The way we work closely together is a bit unique in the world. We share the cost of the programs. We've created a series of programs that are effective and are aimed at the whole sector across the country.
As the minister mentioned, we are never completely closed to new ideas. If there are things that happen—
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
—we can look at them to see if it could be useful as another tool.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
I want to come back to a subject that has been addressed by my Conservative colleagues: the coronavirus action plan. This touches on a question I asked the minister earlier, namely, establishing a special fund that would be available quickly.
I don't blame you, but these are things that people on the ground are telling us. There are a lot of programs, but they say they are extremely restrictive. There's a lot of paperwork. There are delays, it takes a lot of energy, and there's also the coverage rate. All this makes people discouraged and not participate. 31% of people—
One of the things that happened this year was the CN strike, which affected our grain producers. It's not like having a tough year for which they are receiving assistance. It's an outside event.
The diplomatic crisis with China is affecting our canola and pork producers. There were floods in 2017 and 2019. This year, probably in the next few weeks—we hope not—it will be the coronavirus.
Couldn't we consider a special fund and one-off direct assistance? Other countries are doing that. Those with whom we are competing internationally don't just do it a little, they do it by turns. We are asking our producers to perform well.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
In terms of risk management programs, I would say that we already have two approaches. It's not emergency funds, but that's the kind of the approach we're talking about here. The first is AgriInvest. These are savings accounts where the government matches producer contributions. I think the average producer in Canada has an account.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Yes. It's up to them to choose.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Do you understand my point? People have to have already started this process and have to have already invested money for a number of years. It's a good program, there's no question about that, but I think there are going to be more and more cases where we're going to have to support people within short period of time.
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
AgriRecovery is the other program I wanted to mention. It's designed to meet certain needs in the event of a disaster, such as flooding. We start the process at the request of the provinces.
This allows for a quick response in such situations. Our goal is to help producers to meet the extraordinary costs associated with such events.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you.
I'd like to discuss resources at customs. We're talking about investments and inspections. Ms. Bibeau mentioned earlier that resources would be increased. People on the ground are telling us that this is a major shortcoming. This means that a lot of resources will be needed.
Can you tell us how much of the $345 million will be invested in that? Can you give us an idea? Do you think more money will be invested later?
Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Borders and inspections are not the responsibility of our department but of the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Both of these agencies have funds to do inspections. They have an approach—
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
I know it's not the same department. Maybe I'm not being clear, but if we're talking about training customs officers, I think you have a role to play, for example, so that they know the difference between a spent layer and a chicken. We all know—
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
There is a need, but I don't want to spend any more time on it.
Could you tell us what the additional money for the Canadian agricultural partnership will be used for?
