This meeting is called to order.
Welcome to meeting number 26 of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Dear colleagues, this is our last meeting before the House rises for the summer. I hope you had a good weekend in your ridings. I notice that there are a lot of community events happening right now. I want to thank you for your cooperative and constructive work, while bearing in mind the interests of our farmers.
I will start with a few reminders.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House Order of November 25, 2021. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. Just so you are aware, the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee.
As usual, screenshots or taking photos of your screen is of course not permitted.
Again, colleagues, let's just make sure we're respecting the health and safety rules put forward by the Board of Internal Economy.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, May 30, 2022, the committee is commencing its study of the micro cultivation of cannabis and cultivation of hemp. Of course, we're going to be hearing about this as it plays into the regulatory process that Health Canada is conducting five years after the legislation was introduced.
I'd like to now welcome our witnesses to the first panel.
Joining us by video conference from the BC Craft Farmers Co-op, we have David Hurford, who serves as the secretary; from the Cannabis Council of Canada, George Smitherman, president and chief executive officer, and Jacqueline Menezes; and from Sweetgrass Cannabis, Timothy Deighton, director and owner.
Welcome.
Each of the organizations will have up to five minutes for opening remarks.
I'm going to start with Mr. Hurford, from the B.C. Craft Farmers Co-op.
You have five minutes.