Agriculture Committee on Nov. 26th, 2020

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

Thank you very much.

Also, is there an economic impact analysis being done in regard to the impact of the clean fuel standard upon agriculture producers across the country?

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

It's the Department of Environment and Climate Change that has the lead on that. We are obviously considering the different economic and environmental impacts, looking at putting in place a plan for the relaunch of our economy. We want this plan to be green and we want this plan to—

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

Thank you very much. I just want to make sure they're supporting our ag producers.

Can we consider you an advocate in championing an exemption for propane and natural gas on-farm use from the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act this coming year?

Can you talk to your cabinet colleagues to make sure we can get an exemption for on-farm use of propane and natural gas from the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act this year?

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

This is something we are also discussing with our colleagues in other departments. I understand the issue very well. We will do the cost-benefit analysis on it.

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

Thank you very much. You have one question left.

Will you be going to the federal-provincial meeting with some money in your pocket? Do you have permission from Treasury Board and the finance minister to have money, on the federal side, to change some of the BRM programs when you meet with your provincial counterparts tomorrow and in the days to come?

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

Yes.

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

Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you for sharing your time. I appreciate it.

To the minister, welcome. We have a connection with a documentary called Sherbrooke to the City of Brooks.

I have some questions concerning agricultural producers. Are you willing to label them as essential workers?

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

Well, they are. Within the framework we have put in place for COVID and for the pandemic, they are listed. Then it's up to the provinces to also continue—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

When you meet with the provinces, will you push that agenda forward so that they are essential workers?

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

To my knowledge, most if not all of them have identified them as essential workers.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Great. When vaccinations come along, will they be a part of the essential workers as well?

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

I will let the public health departments of the various provinces make the decision on their priorities.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

But they are essential workers. Will you promote that in relation to what comes?

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

Yes. I mean, food security—

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you. Good.

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

—I can promote.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Another one I would be interested in you working on with the health department is hemp. Canada has some of the best growing area in the world for hemp, which replaces a lot of different things, as you would realize. But hemp is under Health and is very restricted in many ways.

Would you be willing to work with Health to get hemp under Agriculture?

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

We are already discussing this new sector. That is in development with our colleagues at the health department.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Great. So are you lobbying for that to be moved?

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

Well, it's a work in process.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

We need it moved into Agriculture. It needs to be there. It needs to be out of Health.

Neonics are a critical chemical that we use in the agricultural sector. If we're talking about sugar beets, it's critical to the sugar beet industry. My riding is the only place left in Canada where the sugar beet industry is manufacturing.

Are you supportive of the continuation of the use of that chemical?

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

I will let the scientific.... I would follow the advice of our scientists. These are the types of discussions that must be had very carefully. We want to protect our environment while we make sure that our producers are competitive, but the health of Canadians and the health of everybody eating Canadian food is the first priority.

I'm not the one who will make.... I will listen to the experts on that. We want to make decisions based on evidence and science.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Minister and Mr. Shields.

Go ahead, Mr. Louis, for five minutes.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here. We appreciate your time and hard work and your department's hard work.

My riding of Kitchener—Conestoga is part of the Waterloo region, which I'm happy to say you've visited in the past. It has vibrant urban and rural communities. We are proud of our agriculture sector. We're also proud of our tech sector. When I speak to the local farmers, they are proud to share with me some of the technologies they employ, which help to increase productivity and also help our environment.

It's natural that I'm interested in knowing more about the funding we have provided, as a government, for research and innovation. Can you share with us some of the investments in research and innovation?