Agriculture Committee on Nov. 26th, 2020

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

I'll repeat what I just said: to my mind, this year means 2020. So there's one month left.

You know you can always count on the cooperation of elected members and the other political parties to support you; so don't hesitate to do so.

My next question concerns processors.

Often in their speeches, many political parties—and I don't mean just yours—name the dairy and other producers under supply management but don't name the processors. However, I've heard you name them several times. They were even included in the motion the House adopted earlier, so I imagine there are no problems in that regard.

Whatever the case may be, these people remain concerned. When you're constantly not named, you worry that there may be no money at the end of the day.

What can you say to these people today?

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

We're as committed to processors as we are to producers. We realize that the last three free-trade agreements signed have had an impact on them. In addition, when we help processors, we're also helping producers.

I'm aware of the situation, Mr. Perron. We're going to honour our commitment to processors too.

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

That's good. I am pleased to hear it.

Let me repeat that, to my mind, this year means the one that ends in December.

Turning to another matter, earlier you mentioned the increase in the Canadian Dairy Commission's borrowing limit. I think that's a good example of the way the political parties can work together, by mutual agreement, to improve the sector's situation. Earlier you mentioned that this was what the Canadian Dairy Commission had requested from you and that you had granted it.

As you know, we introduced Bill C-216 to provide permanent protection for supply management. You said very clearly in your earlier statement, and I thank you for it, that you will be offering no further access to markets under supply management in future trade negotiations. However, you'll have to find a surefire way to ensure that. I don't want to be a prophet of doom here, but let's say an election is held next year and the government is replaced by another political party. You are currently in power and you have an ideal opportunity to assure the people who support us that they'll be permanently protected, regardless of the party in power. The Liberal government is still in power, but you could change portfolios. You know what political life is like: mandates can be short.

If you have a firm and positive answer to give me today, I'll take it. Otherwise, I'd ask you to consider the matter seriously. You say you've granted dairy producers what they asked for, but this bill has massive support from all agricultural organizations and processors.

I'd like to hear what you have to say about that. There are 10 seconds left; that's long enough for you to say yes.

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

The bill you've introduced has to be carefully studied. Our commitment is firm. We've said so and we repeat: we don't want to give up any further share in markets under supply management in future agreements. You saw what we did with the United Kingdom. However, I think we should discuss this a little more to ensure that other agricultural sectors don't suffer any collateral damage. I think we need to discuss the matter at greater length.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Minister, and Mr. Perron.

Now, Mr. Alistair MacGregor, you have the floor for six minutes.

Go ahead, Mr. MacGregor.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for appearing before our committee.

I don't mean to flog a dead horse, but I also want to visit the issue of compensation. I think you have answered about dairy, but for eggs, poultry and our turkey farmers, they requested an emergency meeting of the standing committee back in August. Here we are in November.

I will give you the opportunity again. Why has it taken so long to get details on compensation for these particular sectors, for eggs and for poultry?

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

My commitment today, which I'll reiterate, is that we will provide an answer to the poultry and egg producers before the end of the year on how much we will give them in compensation under CETA and CPTPP and what types of programs will be put in place.

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

To be clear, is it end of year calendar or fiscal?

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

Well, a government always speaks in fiscal years, but....

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

Okay, so March 31 is the—

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

We're working hard on it.

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

Okay, perfect. In the limited time I have, I want to move on.

I appreciate your acknowledgement of our business risk management study. That study was a very faithful representation of all the testimony we heard, as were the recommendations we made to you.

As I saw today, the news, on realagriculture.com, is reporting that there is still some disagreement on AgriStability. Minister, if no agreement can be reached with the required number of provinces on moving the reference margin in AgriStability, what steps is your department prepared to take to fix this program on its own?

These problems existed before COVID-19. They have been exacerbated by it. We want to know what kind of leadership the federal Department of Agriculture is prepared to show in fixing this program if you can't reach an agreement by the end of this week.

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

We will get to the end of the week, and I'm hopeful we will be able to make significant changes to AgriStability. Obviously, to do that I need two-thirds of the provinces to agree, to join. When I say two-thirds, I mean it's based on the level of participation of their farmers in the program. I expect everyone to put their share on the table. When I say that, I mean the sixty-forty cost-sharing that we have always put in the BRM programs in years before and will for years to come.

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

But if that doesn't happen, what's your fallback plan?

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

Well, you understand that I don't want to open my negotiation a day before the negotiation.

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

Sure, but we live in a co-operative federal model. I just want to reiterate that there's a very real sense of frustration out there. I realize we need the provinces to do their fair share, but I want to reiterate the frustration that we have heard individually as members and as the committee.

I want to move on to the topic of food security.

Minister, as you know, in the food policy for Canada one of the stated goals was to address the problem of food insecurity. I was glad to see you mention that one of your priorities is to see that Canadians are fed. However, I am sure you are quite well aware that during this pandemic we've actually seen levels of food insecurity on the rise. I think with the second wave this trend will continue for some time.

How much are you willing to adapt the food policy to meet this challenge? What steps are you taking, as a minister, to address that? The trends are very worrisome. For a country that is so rich in agricultural produce, we still have far too much food insecurity and it's been going on for far too long.

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

I totally agree with you and acknowledge what you are saying.

This is why we have put in place an emergency fund for the food banks of $200 million. It has been distributed in a very efficient way through five major partners that have networks all across the country.

I've also recently announced a little special fund of $2.3 million for the remote communities that were not connected to one of these networks. I can assure you that we have put a lot of effort into making sure we were able to reach the remote, northern and indigenous communities. We have added a second $100-million tranche.

You remember, certainly, the $50 million to buy surplus food. Also, there was $25 million for the northern communities specifically, and I would add the food waste challenge too.

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

Thank you, Minister. I have one final question.

During the course of our committee we also had the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. They are still asking for a perishable agricultural commodities act, which was, of course, a unanimous recommendation of two standing committees in the previous Parliament.

What are you doing, Minister, to make sure that this becomes a reality here in Canada?

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

I will admit that I have to work further on this. I don't have a clear answer for you today, but I'll be pleased to get back to you.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thanks. We'll go to the second round.

I believe Mr. Steinley will split his time with Mr. Shields.

You have the floor, Mr. Steinley.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Unfortunately, two and a half minutes is not a lot of time, Minister. My first question is—you've said it now—can egg producers expect compensation on a date before the end of the fiscal year, so around April 1, 2021?

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

I'm sorry; the line was cut. Are you talking about the dairy farmers?

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

No, the egg compensation. Will the poultry and egg compensation be before April 1, 2021?

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

Our commitment is to make the announcement, to give them the amount and the type of program that we'll roll out soon after.