Agriculture Committee on April 18th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

I will repeat the motion, yes.

Colleagues, there will be a vote, and it is on the amendment to the motion from Mr. Barlow, which reads:

That the clerk and the analysts be instructed to prepare a brief report for the committee outlining the material facts of the potential breach of privilege related to the reports of threats, harassment and intimidation against, and efforts to deter the appearances of, potential witnesses and witnesses in relation to the committee's study of Bill C-355, an act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter, and to make related amendments to certain acts.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Colleagues, that's unanimous.

The motion by Mr. Barlow is now amended with Mr. MacGregor's element, so now, technically, assuming we need it, I can call the vote on the main motion.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Louis, you have the floor, very quickly.

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

Thank you, Chair.

I want to thank everyone, and yes, this committee does work well together.

I tabled a notice of motion the other day and I hope everyone got it. I'd like to table that motion. It's about protecting farmland, and I think this is the perfect spot to do that.

Many of the members here are from Ontario. We know that in Ontario we're losing about 319 acres of farmland every day, and only about 5% of Ontario's land mass is suitable for agriculture.

My riding of Kitchener—Conestoga is at the heart of Ontario's agricultural land, and we're facing farmland loss right now. As Canada grows, we have to do things and do them while protecting prime agricultural land. I believe that all levels of government can collaborate in a non-partisan manner to preserve farmland for today and for future generations.

I am going to table this motion. It says:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the protection of prime agricultural areas for their long-term agricultural use; the use and/or development of agricultural land as defined by Canada Land Inventory for non-agricultural development; that no fewer than four meetings are set aside to hear from witnesses, that the committee report its findings to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

In the interest of time, perhaps we can talk about the details of how many meetings and when that happens in the subcommittee, but I think it is important to table this now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Yes, we are getting tight on time.

By the way, we didn't have the opportunity to say congratulations, because the bill did pass in your name.

We move to a point of privilege. I hear you moving it, but you are okay for us to wait another day to determine whether or not we want to move forward.

Mr. Perron, I saw your hand, but perhaps if Mr. Louis is willing to engage on this topic on another day, we can go then.

Go ahead.

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

That is a good idea, Mr. Chair. I was just about to ask whether we could discuss it another day.

Protecting farmland is of the utmost importance; it is fundamental. That is nonetheless entirely under the jurisdiction of the provinces and of Quebec.

If we were to vote on your motion today, Mr. Louis, I would have to vote against it. So I would suggest that you talk to the committee members to find a more acceptable way of wording it. Given the subject, however, that will be difficult for us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Go ahead, Mr. MacGregor, and then we're going to let people go to question period.

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

Similarly, I think the idea has merit. I would vote to adjourn the debate on this motion because I need more time to contemplate it.

In British Columbia, we have the Agricultural Land Reserve. I don't know of any opportunity for the federal government to get involved in the Province of British Columbia. It is entirely under the province to protect our land. It's under our legislation. It has been since the 1970s.

I think it's a good idea, but there are a number of motions on notice right now. Ultimately, Chair, I think we need to have a subcommittee meeting to try to do some air traffic control on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Okay, colleagues, we will do that.

As you know, now that we have finished clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C‑355, my intention is to move to finishing the study on food price stabilization when we come back from the break week, as you instructed the other day in camera. That will be on Tuesday. We will get that report done. I will happily work with my two vice-chairs and Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Drouin to identify where you might want to go next.

We are running out of time. Assuming there are not any other urgent elements, I'm happy to go to you, Yves, very quickly, and then I'm going to hit the hammer and we're getting out of here.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

You mentioned the study on food price inflation. So we will go ahead and invite the members of the grocery code of conduct steering committee.

Is that correct?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

That hasn't yet been scheduled. That motion has been moved. We were a little bit dependent on what was going to happen today. We now have a clear line of sight as to what the next couple of weeks look like.

As I just mentioned, I will work with you, John, Francis and Alistair, and we can figure out what the schedule looks like for the next couple of weeks. I know that's a priority for you and this committee.

Thank you.

Colleagues, the meeting is adjourned.