Agriculture Committee on June 6th, 2022

[Dr. Maximo Torero Cullen]

Right now I think, for the most vulnerable countries, it's urgent to implement the food import financing facility. The Government of Canada can support this through donations to SDRs at the IMF and support the IMF's implementation of this, because there are countries today that are running into huge stress that could end in social unrest if we don't act quickly this year.

Second, it's important to find ways to help in the delivery of fertilizers to the countries that right now are a priority because of crop culling.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you, Mr. Perron.

Thank you to all our witnesses. For your context, we have a procedural vote that is going to be happening in about five minutes, so that is what rushed us a little bit at the end. We did get a second round of questions in, and we certainly appreciate your being here.

Ms. Labat, I might not ask a question but for a comment. Mr. Drouin asked for the EU's perspective on some of the programs to support farmers. Fertilizer was mentioned. I don't have the time to ask it of you, and these things don't happen overnight, but Canada is one of the largest, if not the largest, fertilizer producer in the world. What member states would particularly benefit from Canadian exportation in this domain? If that's something you could provide in writing, we would welcome that.

Otherwise, we will let you enjoy your day, and we sincerely thank you for your contribution to our study.

Colleagues, I have two quick pieces of business. One is the committee budget. Would someone please move that the budget be accepted? It was distributed, and I don't foresee our having any issue with that.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Okay, I have unanimous consent.

The second piece is that on Thursday, colleagues, we are welcoming the minister of agrarian policy and food from Ukraine, the minister of agriculture in our contemporary aspect. I would like to be able to hold a press conference in the morning to try to draw attention to what we are doing. I think it's extremely important. The testimony we've heard today was important.

Mr. Drouin, I think you have a motion. I believe this should be pretty straightforward, because we've talked about it before.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Do we need a motion? If there's agreement, we can give you the—

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Josée Harrison]

Can you read it into the record for the blues?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Sure. I move:

That the clerk of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food make the necessary arrangements for a press conference to be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022; and that the committee be represented by the Chair.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you, colleagues, I appreciate it.

I think it's important that we all collectively continue to highlight the work that we're doing here. As Mr. Epp and Mr. Baker mentioned, this is personal for all of us.

With that, colleagues, I will let us adjourn for our vote.