Agriculture Committee on Dec. 14th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to the 43^rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

I'll start with a few reminders.

This meeting is in hybrid format. Our debate will be broadcast on the House of Commons' website. For your information, the webcast will always show the person speaking rather than the entire committee.

Colleagues, we are here. I don't think this is going to take very long. I expect that it won't.

There are a couple of things that I need to start with.

Don't start with me, Mr. Perron, with those signals over there.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

I have a couple of things. All of you have budgets. These are budgets prepared by the clerk. They are for the food inflation study and for the Ukraine goods remission order, which was two meetings. I need a motion to have those adopted. This is administrative, but I would move that we make that happen, or I would ask that someone in this group do it.

Okay, I saw Mr. Steinley, seconded by Mr. MacGregor, and I don't think we're going to have any issue.

All in favour?

(Motion agree to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Lehoux, I know you have a very quick point on the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and a request, so why don't you ask your question? We're going to get a quick response so that it's on the record, and then we'll move on.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Was the letter inviting the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to appear before the committee sent? If so, have we received a response?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Just for the sake of efficiency, I'm going to respond in English.

Yes, the letter has been sent. The clerk has made sure that it's gone out. However, we don't know exactly what time the committees are going to sit in the new year. The minister is in receipt of this letter, and I think we're waiting to see exactly when the committees are going to sit, but there is an open invitation for the minister to come in 2023.

I'll let my clerk add anything additional if she feels it is necessary.

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

That's a pretty complete answer. As soon as I get the committee calendar for the new year, I will forward that to his office and await a response.

Thank you.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope our committee will be the first one he attends.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Great.

Colleagues, we are going to move to the bill that is before us today.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the committee will commence clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-227, an act to establish Food Day in Canada.

I would like to provide the members of the committee with some reminders on how we will proceed with clause-by-clause study.

Madam Clerk, I don't think there were any prepared amendments.

[The Clerk]

It's actually in your notes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Okay.

No amendments were submitted for the study of this bill.

If any amendments are proposed during today's meeting, they have to be submitted in writing to the clerk of the committee.

During debate on an amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. These subamendments must also be submitted in writing.

Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will vote on the short title, the preamble, the title and the bill itself, and an order to reprint the bill may be required if amendments are adopted so that the House has a proper copy for use at the report stage.

Finally, the committee will have to order the chair to report the bill back to the House. That report contains only the text of any adopted amendments as well as an indication of any deleted clauses.

Thank you. I was able to work on my French. Thank you for that.

We also have with us today, to answer any questions on the bill, Sophie Beecher, director general, sustainable development policy directorate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Welcome, and thank you for your work.

I don't know if there are any amendments that are being proposed or if any further discussion is required.

Unless I am wrong, Madam Clerk, I think I can move that pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, the short title, and of the preamble be postponed.

The chair calls clause 2. Shall clause 2 carry?

(Clause 2 agreed to)

Shall the short title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Shall the preamble carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

This is wonderful, colleagues.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Shall the bill...? I'm sorry. There are no amendments.

Shall the chair report the bill back to the House?

[Some hon. members]

You need to ask, “Shall the bill carry?”

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

My apologies. There are a lot of yeses here.

Shall the bill carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Shall the chair report the bill back to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

That is all we need, right, Madam Clerk?

[The Clerk]

Yes.