Agriculture Committee on March 11th, 2021

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I think we can.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Okay.

Go ahead, Madam Minister.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I wanted to say first that the price on pollution is a very important tool for us as a country to meet our goals and to do our fair share to protect our environment and fight against climate change.

When we did all the calculations with the data provided by the industry and the provinces, it was strictly based on the price on pollution applied to grain drying. We have announced a significant increase on the price on pollution, and we also acknowledge that all the technology for our farmers to get better equipped in terms of energy-efficient equipment is not necessarily already available.

This is why we have committed to new rebates for on-farm fuel use. Also, from the $165-million agricultural clean technology fund, we will make grain drying and barn heating priorities in terms of research, innovation and support to farmers, for them to be able to afford these new, energy-efficient technologies.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

This morning, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture announced that they had hired Dr. Al Mussell from Agri-Food Economic Systems to look into the cost of the carbon tax on our farm community and the cost of mitigating it. They're incurring some considerable expense in doing that because they're not able to source the information adequately from the AAFC. Would you suggest that farmers—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Epp, I guess we're having a problem with interpretation.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Why?

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

I don't want to interrupt, Mr. Epp, but the interpretation isn't working at all while he's asking his questions. Perhaps we should finish this question quickly and move on to Mr. Lehoux.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Am I speaking too quickly? Is that the issue? I have not had this issue with this headset in other settings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

For some reason, they can't translate. I guess the communication doesn't go through the interpreters. I think that's the issue, because Monsieur Perron said he couldn't hear it. It's because of Bluetooth, apparently—that's what they're telling us.

Monsieur Perron is okay, so the Minister can finish that.

Did you understand the question, Madam Minister?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

You can answer.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Actually, the AAFC is not the right department to gather that data.

I know that the committee will be studying the issue around Bill C-206. We will be interested in getting that data from all of the different organizations or groups that will be studying the subject.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Thank you.

I'll turn the rest of my time over to my colleague Mr. Lehoux.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Okay, thank you.

You have the floor, Mr. Lehoux.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Mr. Epp.

Good afternoon and welcome, Madam Minister.

I'd like some clarification, please. You mentioned earlier that you had added $10 million to the emergency processing fund, increasing it from $77.5 million to $87 million, and that you had taken that amount from the current overall budget. A $10-million transfer is significant.

Where exactly did you take that money from?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Indeed.

I'll probably ask Ms. Walker, the assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer, to answer that question. I know that it comes from various sources within the budgets—

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Otherwise, Madam Minister, you can simply send us the details of where the money came from, since it's a more technical question. I'd like an answer in writing, if possible.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

It's up to you. You can also ask Ms. Walker, if you wish.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Okay. I'll ask her later.

As for the compensation offered to egg and poultry producers, we know that the amount has been established. You said earlier that you were about to announce how this would translate on the ground. I think producers are very anxious to know. They are still worried about investments and possible technological improvements.

Will there be more flexible guidelines in this regard?

In other programs, there have certainly been difficulties because of the rigidity of certain guidelines—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Lehoux, please ask your question quickly because your time is almost up. If you have a question, ask it quickly, and I'll let the minister respond.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Madam Minister, can we assure producers that the rules will be simplified?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Based on the discussions we've had with their representatives, I'm confident they'll be satisfied with the program.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Lehoux and Madam Minister.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mrs. Bessette, you have five minutes.