Agriculture Committee on Nov. 19th, 2020

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

In terms of the $77.5 million, which you also discussed with Ms. Rood, you said that money still needs to be distributed. Are we to understand that there is money left?

The amount seemed small to us. Can you elaborate on that?

[Frédéric Seppey]

The program has been extremely popular and there are very few funds left. Some disbursements still need to be made under the program. I don't have the figures with me, but the total envelope has been almost fully used. Applications from the meat processing sector were prioritized.

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

So a large number of requests have not been answered.

Do you plan to increase the assistance fund? The $77.5 million for Canada as a whole seems to us to be a very small amount.

[Frédéric Seppey]

We are not planning to increase that envelope at this stage.

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

In your presentation, you talked about interprovincial trade and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's more flexible rules. Could you tell us in a few seconds what has been done specifically?

[Frédéric Seppey]

As you know, all food products traded interprovincially must normally be manufactured in a federally certified plant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in cooperation with provincial and territorial authorities, has made an exception to this rule to allow interprovincial trade in meat products processed in provincially regulated establishments and to prevent meat shortages. As there have been no shortages, no province or territory has applied to the agency for this exception. The exception exists and would be ready for use should the situation require it.

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

Is there any possibility of establishing this on a regional basis? In certain regions of Quebec, there are particular slaughter problems and the slaughterhouse may be located close to another province. If I'm correct, there would be an opening for temporary arrangements to be made on this basis. Is that correct?

[Frédéric Seppey]

There is this obligation, given that interprovincial trade is under federal jurisdiction. The work done by the CFIA demonstrates that exceptions can be considered in specific cases. In the case you point out, particularly in border regions such as the Outaouais, there is enormous interest in these elements. In fact, a few years ago, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was working on a pilot project to allow this type of temporary arrangement in the national capital region.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Perron, you have only one second left.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Your time is up, Mr. Perron.

We'll go to Mr. MacGregor, for six minutes.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you, Chair, and to the witnesses who are appearing before us today.

Yesterday I had a meeting with representatives from UFCW, which represents approximately 70,000 workers in processing plants across Canada. I'm happy to hear the acknowledgement that labour is a critical part of the puzzle, because indeed it is. However, during the course of my meeting with UFCW, they clearly raised some ongoing concerns they had for the safety of their members.

If we acknowledge the important part that labour plays...I want to reiterate to members of the committee and our witnesses that UFCW did submit to Minister Bibeau's department seven recommendations for best practices. Even with the timeline we are on right now, and with all that we know about COVID-19, they found that in some cases recommendations were adopted and followed, but in many cases they were not.

With COVID numbers now on the rise again, and the vulnerability we've already seen in our supply chain, with some processing plants having to shut down, why is the CFIA not stepping in to enforce these consistently applied protocols to protect the health and safety of our workers?

[Theresa Iuliano]

Mr. Chair, I'll start by saying that CFIA is committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees, while of course maintaining and delivering critical inspection services. All of the facilities we operate within are required to follow appropriate public health protocols and seek guidance from local public health authorities.

We expect that the facilities are undertaking efforts to control any risks associated with workers who are ill. This is in addition to their regular cleaning, sanitation and other preventative controls.

We've also asked our own employees to follow the health and safety protocols put in place at the establishments where they work. CFIA employees, including inspectors, who exhibit any signs or symptoms of illness are advised to contact their management. We work very closely with the industry, the unions and public health authorities to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

I appreciate the answer, Mr. Chair.

However, it was made very clear to me yesterday by the UFCW that many of these protocols are still being applied haphazardly.

When can we expect a full compliance rate? How is CFIA measuring the timeline for that level of enforcement?

[Theresa Iuliano]

CFIA's mandate in food establishments relates to food safety. Therefore, we take the measures necessary to enforce the acts and regulations in relation to the safety of the food produced in the establishments.

Compliance with public health measures is the responsibility of the operator working in collaboration with local public health authorities and following the requirements of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Part of our study, for the information of the witnesses, is looking at the goal of increasing local capacity to protect food security. I've heard some very positive responses about the local food infrastructure fund, particularly how it's allowed small-scale primary producers to gain access to funding to invest in processing capacities, especially in small rural communities like the ones in my riding.

I'd like to hear from our witnesses about the status of the local food infrastructure fund. What has the uptake of it been? Also, what are the department's plans for this particular fund going into the future? Are there plans to improve or increase it and so on and so forth?

[Frédéric Seppey]

Like other programs, I cannot comment on whether there will be an increase in the future. The member is absolutely right that this is a program that has been quite popular. In fact, the amount under that fund was already increased once from the initial amount. We definitely felt there was a very good response to this program.

I can also mention that 95% of all food processing establishments in Canada are small and medium-sized enterprises. In the evolution of the demand for food products across the country, we have seen a greater attachment to procuring from local producers and local food processors. Therefore, when we discuss with food processors and think about future programs or initiatives and being able to empower and help these processors diversify what they offer in response to increased consumer demand, there is this aspect of raising awareness about the importance of supporting local farmers. It's definitely one element of our consideration for future strategies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. MacGregor.

Now we'll start our second round with Mr. Steinley for five minutes. Go ahead, please.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thank you to all the witnesses who are here today. I really think, as a government, there really isn't anything more important than food security for the citizens of our country. The people on this witness list are important to ensure that.

My first question goes to Mr. Seppey. Food has has been designated by Public Safety as one of Canada's critical infrastructure sectors. Going into COVID-19, did Canada have an emergency response plan for the food system?

[Frédéric Seppey]

Yes, you are absolutely right that the food supply is critical infrastructure. Under Public Safety, there are a number of plans for the various sectors. There's an emergency function that exists for food and water. Of course, it is thinking more in terms of localized, regional crises that require a punctual intervention to procure food and water for a specific situation, whether it's an area affected by flooding, etc. Having a comprehensive plan to deal with the magnitude of the COVID-19 situation, I don't think any plans could have anticipated that. However, as you pointed out, it was key to designate workers in the food area as essential from the get-go.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

A nation-wide plan probably wasn't in place. I heard there's a regional plan. Are steps being taken now for another instance, a crisis like COVID-19, to have the food system prepared for another such disaster, should it come?

[Frédéric Seppey]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have established a number of mechanisms to enable us to monitor and to engage with the various segments of the sectors, in terms of addressing specific situations, because the situations may vary from one sector to another. For example, immediately when the crisis started, we had the first closure of a meat processing plant—Olymel—in Quebec in late March. We established plans with CFIA, with AAFC, with the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture as well as with public health authorities in Quebec to have a crisis cell able to manage the situation associated with such a plant being shut down.

We had similar situations where there were outbreaks of COVID-19 among staff in large poultry plants in southwestern Ontario.

It is definitely about acting quickly in dealing with specific situations. So far, we have indications that the sector appreciated these quick responses. They had access immediately to senior officials in the government and to ministers to address these concerns.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thank you very much for that answer. I'm hoping there's a nation-wide plan that's going to be looked at.

I'm going to switch gears here now, as I only have five minutes.

I know there are some trade people who are here as witnesses as well, so I'm going to ask a question in that regard. In general, how are we working to increase market access and ensure that current trade agreements are implemented—because once they're signed, there also is the implementation process—which improves predictability and creates further global opportunities for our country's oilseed processors? What I'm asking is, once we've signed trade deals as a country, are we working with Global Affairs to ensure that those agreements are implemented? As our processors across the country can have more access to our world-class quality products, they'll obviously be able to add to their bottom line.

[Frédéric Seppey]

Yes, as somebody who has been closely involved with the negotiations of free trade agreements over the previous year, I can assure you that the whole purpose of these trade agreements is to make sure that they include strong, enforceable provisions on dispute settlements, so that we can use all of the levers at our disposal to advance our interests.

You're mentioning, for example, our oilseed products. Of course, a lot of the efforts right now by our colleagues in the market access secretariat, which is part of a unit that is hosted by both CFIA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, are coordinating actions with Global Affairs Canada at home and in posts abroad. They are working to make sure we get to the bottom of the alleged issues with the phytosanitary requirements or features of our products, to address in a technical way these elements.

If we have to go to court and exercise our rights—for example at the World Trade Organization—we definitely work constantly with the industry to exercise these rights.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Well—