Evidence of meeting #1 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
The member did call for the vote, so I think you have to call the vote.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
My understanding from the clerk is that it's not a superseding motion to call for a vote. As long as there are individuals who want to speak to it, I have that discretion.
I want to be mindful of the time. I am going to go to Mr. Turnbull. We know that this is important. I think all members agree. As your chair, my hope is that we can find a way to be able to make this work. We've certainly heard from committee members. We've heard some of the concerns from those who have spoken already, and perhaps we can find a way to get this done.
Go ahead, Mr. Turnbull.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this and express a few of the concerns that are coming up for me with regard to this.
I deeply feel and understand the need to study this, but we haven't had much notice on this. Normally, in terms of a witness list and planning a meeting as important as this, I would think we'd give a bit more lead time to not just the people in the department but our clerk and others to organize the witnesses and invite those witnesses, many of whom may not be available on such short notice with the omicron variant wreaking havoc as well as quite a few other duties that they have. I'm anticipating that this might present some logistical challenges for it to happen as early as next Tuesday.
Also, all parties normally have an opportunity to weigh in on what witnesses we'd like to have come before the committee, and we haven't had an opportunity to do that. I met with Premier King when he was on the Hill and talked to him about the potato issue, which is a concern to all of us. I showed my support, and I'm sure many other members did as well.
It's important for us to have a proper witness list, for all parties to submit those witnesses and for us to undertake a study with some real intention to the design of how we're going to undertake it and not wing it at the last minute when we weren't anticipating this. I certainly was never consulted on the fact that this motion was going to be moved today. It's something that I take very seriously, having worked on sustainable food systems and understanding supply chains and how vulnerable they are with these international trade relationships that can be so concerning.
We have an opportunity to do some deep, meaningful work here, but we can't do it without notice and proper consultation on which witnesses we'd like to see come before the committee.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Mr. Turnbull, I have to interrupt you. We're getting close on time here with four minutes, and the clerk has advised me to keep it under five minutes.
The normal protocol is to ask committee members if we want to continue after the 10-minute period for voting is over. I presume that is the case, but I don't want to presume as your chair. I would move to suspend. I ask if you would want to come back after the vote, which I presume we do.
3:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yes.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
We'll move to suspend.
Mr. Clerk, please keep a speaking order, and we'll continue immediately after the vote.
Thank you.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Chair, in the spirit of co-operation, I will cede my time to Mr. Barlow. We have had some discussions.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
In the spirit of the season and in the spirit of giving, I will withdraw my motion and replace that with a gentleman's agreement, which I trust we will all abide by.
We have come to an agreement that we will have a briefing—a two-hour meeting—on or before December 22. We'll invite officials from the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the P.E.I. Potato Board and a representative of the minister of agriculture or the P.E.I. government—whoever they feel is able to attend. Again, this is an invitation. If they cannot attend, we'll try to work around it.
Then we'll have a discussion on the B.C. issue as a subcommittee sometime in the new year.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
The clerk has informed me that we need unanimous consent for Mr. Barlow to withdraw his motion. I don't foresee that being a problem, but I'm going to ask quickly.
(Motion withdrawn)
Good. Okay, we're going to move forward.
Mr. Clerk, I don't think we require a vote. As Mr. Barlow said, it was an arranged conversation. Just in case, so we're all on board, I'll ask for unanimous consent to Mr. Barlow's motion.
4:15 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
That is passed.
One thing I was not able to do earlier was to introduce our analyst. I'm going to give that opportunity.
Dan, over to you.
4:15 p.m.
Daniel Farrelly Analyst
Good afternoon.
My name is Daniel Farrelly. I am an analyst with the Library of Parliament. My colleague Corentin Bialais is also assigned to this committee, but he is unfortunately unable to join us today.
Our work on the committee is part of the Library's mandate. We carry out research and provide parliamentarians with independent, non-partisan and evidence–based analyses.
I won't go into detail right now about everything we do. I will simply say to members and their staff, please never hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Thank you, Mr. Analyst.
Mr. Clerk, I don't know if you had the opportunity.... Some of our committee members were coming from the House. Perhaps you'd like to briefly introduce yourself, so that all the members know who you are.
4:20 p.m.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Benoit Jolicoeur. I am clerk of the committee. I was previously clerk of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
It is a pleasure for me to work with you here at the agriculture committee. Likewise, for any questions that members or members' staff may have, please do not hesitate. I am always here at the service of the committee.
Thank you.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
December 16th, 2021 / 4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair
I want to first congratulate you on getting elected and say that you can always count on my collaboration.
I would like to request the unanimous consent on the following motion. The proposal is a favourable one. I think it is important, as it helps complete the circle. It concerns the last Parliament.
Here is the motion:
That the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food during the 2nd session of the 43rd Parliament, entitled “Room to Grow: Strengthening Food Processing Capacity in Canada for Food Security and Exports” be adopted as a report of the committee in the current session of Parliament; and that the Chair be authorized to present the report and that a government response be requested.
For clarity's sake, I want to specify that the motion concerns the last report we worked on, the one on processing capacity. That report was tabled.
So I seek unanimous consent.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Mr. Drouin, you have the floor concerning the motion that is up for discussion.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
I thank Mr. Lehoux for this motion, which I support.
However, the report was finished. We just didn't have a chance to do everything. I think Pat Finnigan responded, but the government called an election.
I am wondering whether this is urgent or whether we could discuss it further. We know that supply chains were really put to the test, and this report could enlighten the committee if it decided to consider this issue in depth.
If Mr. Lehoux wants to only get the report adopted and request a government response, we have no problem with that.
