Okay, great.
Evidence of meeting #13 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was processing.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #13 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was processing.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
How does it look, Mr. Clerk? Can we resolve the issue with the sound?
4:05 p.m.
The Clerk
I think that the issue has been resolved, Mr. Chair. I can hear the French channel very well right now.
Please try again and accept our apologies.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I'm going to speak, and I'm hoping that Mr. Perron can hear me in French. Okay, excellent.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Anthony, I have a minute and 24 seconds left. My final question is around the logistics. You're in Shubenacadie in central Nova Scotia. You work with many dairy farmers and beef farmers. What does the transportation look like in the Maritimes, given the fact that you have to travel these long distances? We've seen a deindustrialization of some of these facilities. When you pick up a calf, what does that look like? Can you explain that to the members of this committee?
4:05 p.m.
Drover, Scotian Cattle Company
When we go on the road at 2:30, three, four o'clock in the morning, that's when we start our day in the east. We pick up our calves, and they come back to the assembly yard here at Scotian at my facility. We have the tractor-trailers here in the yard. Once the calves are fed, they are loaded onto the trucks and then they head west to wherever they're going. We pick up calves in Prince Edward Island or in New Brunswick, and then they head to Quebec to Saint-Hyacinthe.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I want to ask Mr. Davies a very brief question.
You explained that Sunnymel, or Olymel, has a processing plant in New Brunswick. Is it only a poultry plant or is it also a pork plant?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Unfortunately, that's all the time we have, Mr. Blois. Perhaps Mr. Davies will be able to answer it later.
Mr. Perron, you have the floor for six minutes.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
Yes. The Clair plant is only a poultry and chicken plant.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
You said that the percentage of foreign workers was a major issue. You want this percentage increased to 20%. However, we know that the percentage used to be 30%. If this percentage were implemented over a long period, would 20% be enough? Should we consider increasing the percentage even more?
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
Certainly, increasing the percentage to 30% would, in my opinion, enable us to better prepare for the longer term. Of course, if the percentage were set at 20%, we would be ready to address the issues in terms of welcoming the workers, accommodation and everything else. An increase in the percentage would provide more options for both companies and the broader manufacturing sector.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Mr. Davies, I'm sorry, but the interpreters can't hear you very well.
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
Am I speaking too fast?
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Davies, you should try changing the position of your microphone.
Your official request is to increase this percentage to 20%. Is that right?
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
Exactly. That's what was established.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Okay. Thank you.
In terms of labour, I imagine that you've tried everything. For example, when it comes to working conditions, do you have any room to increase wages or benefits?
Could you tell me about this aspect?
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
Recently, with the vice-president of human resources, we set a benchmark for compensation in our industry. Olymel is above average in this area.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Mr. Davies, I'm sorry, but some of my colleagues are telling me that the interpretation isn't working. We don't have a choice. We need interpretation for everyone.
4:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Olymel L.P.
If there are more anglophones on the committee, I could respond in English.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
We don't like having to work that way.
That said, it's up to you, Mr. Perron.
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
You know that I can't accept that.
Would it be possible to submit our questions to Mr. Davies and have him respond to us in writing? I actually have a couple of questions. Would the committee allow this?