Evidence of meeting #112 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 organic.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canadian Cattle Association
Yes. Jack has that.
Officer at Large, Canadian Cattle Association
On a feedlot animal, we're at $147 a head. On a cow-calf operation, it's about $84 per animal.
Conservative
Officer at Large, Canadian Cattle Association
Yes. A lot of that is hidden costs. For example, I buy wet distillers from an ethanol plant. It has to be trucked in. That carbon tax is hidden in that trucking cost coming in, so it isn't a line item.
Conservative
Conservative
Warren Steinley Conservative Regina—Lewvan, SK
Mark, I'll ask you the same question about some of the non-tariff barriers—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Mr. Steinley, we're at time, unfortunately. I gave you an extra 15 seconds. I've already been charitable.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
I'm sorry, Mark, but you can certainly provide that to the committee in writing, as you know, or you might get another question on it here.
I'll start with you, Ms. Murray, if you'd like to start, or Mr. Louis. I think you guys are splitting the time.
Go ahead, Mr. Louis.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Thank you, Chair. I'll be splitting my time with Ms. Murray.
Thank you to the witnesses. I appreciate everyone being here.
I'll sum this up by saying that we're striving for predictability in a very unpredictable world. We need to stay in front of working toward sustainable development in agriculture to keep feeding our families and to help feed the world. What we're hearing is that we have one of the most sustainable agriculture sectors in the world. We have to keep moving forward on that. Other countries now are stepping up. We need to keep that competitive edge, which will help our farmers and help the environment as well.
I'll start with the Canadian Cattle Association. In Kitchener—Conestoga, not far from you, cattle farms make up about 35% of the farms. That's a significant part of agriculture in the riding. Farmers in Kitchener—Conestoga and throughout Canada are working hard to boost productivity and to do it in a sustainable way. That sustainability has economic benefits, I believe you said, sir. We're seen as world leaders in that case.
How important is emission reduction and carbon sequestration in distinguishing Canadian beef from international competitors? How can we leverage those benefits?
Officer at Large, Canadian Cattle Association
As a national beef organization, we want to be recognized as leaders. We want to base our decisions on science-based decisions, whether it's production or trade. We're trying to position ourselves as a solution to climate change.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
I forgot to hit the start button here, so I'm not sure how much time I have left. I'll just direct one question to each person.
To Mr. Walker from Cereals Canada, all levels of government need to support the ways in which our agriculture sector can be sustainable and resilient at the same time. Can you tell us how Cereals Canada is addressing sustainability within the cereal grains sector? Also, can you say how you're helping your members navigate the complexities of a global trade environment?
Vice-President, Markets and Trade, Cereals Canada
Thank you for the question.
In response, look, we know we're lower-carbon than our international competitors. We know we sequester more carbon, additionally, than our international competitors. We do compete internationally. That is part of our competitive advantage, and we're very proud of that. However, because we export more than 70% of our crop each year—perhaps I'll align a little bit with the study at the committee, if I could—we won't be able to realize the benefits of a CBA, or potential benefits of a CBA, when exporting to a country that does not have a price on carbon.
Liberal
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thank you to all of the witnesses for being here today.
To start, I have one specific question for Mr. Chaffe from the Canadian Cattle Association. You mentioned the 2030 goals for improving sustainability. Could you share with us what the goal is for reducing methane and how much reduction has happened to date since you set that goal?
Officer at Large, Canadian Cattle Association
I don't have the exact number on our reduction, but a lot of that comes through research and the importance of research in developing new products for productivity, especially in the feedlot industry. The more efficient we are on the performance of those animals, the less greenhouse gas will be emitted.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I think it also ties into the emissions of methane from the cattle as opposed to from the product development. I mean, if you do have that information of how much methane reduction has happened, you could send it to the committee in writing afterwards.
Senior Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canadian Cattle Association
If I could add something.... The methane is part of our greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction. Our goal is a 33% further reduction. We just released our national beef assessment in January—I'm happy to send that to the committee—which shows that we are tracking towards our goals to meet or surpass our goals.
Senior Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canadian Cattle Association
Within that, we are, yes.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
That's great. Thank you.
One of our guests—I think it was Mr. Walker—said that he would request that the government not move forward with a CBA policy. I think the whole point of what we're doing here is not that the government is moving forward with a border adjustment policy. It's whether, should that be applied by other countries that implicate Canada, we will be ready to respond.
I'm interested in each of the witnesses giving us their thoughts about what the top two things are that Canada could and should do to be prepared in the case that there might be a border adjustment policy, a carbon border adjustment, applied by other countries on our products.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
We are at time, so this is going to be quick hits like Coke or Pepsi-type stuff.
I'm going to start with you, Pierre.
President and Chief Executive Officer, CropLife Canada
I would say that data is king, so we need more data. I would also say that it's holding other jurisdictions to account on some of the things that I've mentioned previously.
Officer at Large, Canadian Cattle Association
I would just add, like I said before, science-based decisions. They have to be based on the science.