Evidence of meeting #5 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 cap.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
I want to make sure all five planks of your platform are read into the record.
The second one deals with shortening processing time. We've heard of delays of up to eight months.
Very quickly, can you confirm that your sector is also experiencing that, and that you're calling for more resources into the processing side of the LMIAs?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
Yes, we are. Actually, what we're asking for is a level playing field.
On the production side, we know for temporary foreign workers who have come into our agriculture sector, those applications are processed more quickly. What we're looking for is to make sure that we also get prompt processing times.
You've heard from witnesses; we're all part of the same chain. We as processors need to make sure that our farmers are able to to do their jobs, and I assume our farmers need us to do the same.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
The third point calls for supports for small businesses, dedicating resources to centralize the LMIA.
Very quickly, can you describe how that would be of benefit?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
The idea there is to have a central place within the government to process our labour market impact assessment requests so that they develop expertise.
They get applications from all sectors of the economy. We're thinking that if we can have a dedicated centre within ESDC to review our applications, they'll develop some expertise and that's going to contribute to speeding up processing times.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
I'm sorry for cutting you off, but I'm just trying to get this all on the record.
On pathways for residency, I know there has been a pilot program, which has been very broadly well received. Canada's population is the fastest growing in the G7, yet we're still experiencing that lack of labour. Can you comment?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
My colleague from the Canadian Meat Council mentioned this earlier. There's nothing temporary about jobs in our industry. The idea there is to ensure that the foreign workers who come in, if they're willing to stay in Canada and if the employer is willing to sponsor them—we know it is in a lot of cases—there is a pathway for these people to get their work experience in Canada as temporary foreign workers recognized so that they can apply and become permanent Canadian residents.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
Do you have any specific ideas on directing refugees? I know Canada's ag, a lot of our rural companies, has been built upon waves of refugees.
Would you like to comment?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
We know there have been influxes of refugees, such as recently from Afghanistan. We understand. It would be great to find a solution. We have these people coming to Canada looking to get into the labour market. We need people. The idea there is to basically bring these two together so that we can use some of these workers in our industry.
Conservative
Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
Thank you.
I have one last question. I know housing has been an issue. Have you had any response to the industry calls for some certainty on the change of regulations?
I know there have been all kinds of consultations. I'm aware of parts of the industry that are looking for government to respond. Have you heard anything back?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
I can't speak to this specifically. Some of my colleagues might be able to expand on it.
I'll be honest. Labour is somewhat of a new issue for our association. We have been working on this for several months now. I know housing continues to be a challenge, but I can't speak to some of the recent changes that have been floated around.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Thank you, Mr. Epp; and thank you, Mr. Laurin.
Mr. Epp, you reminded me, of course, of waves of immigration. I would be remiss without mentioning our Dutch immigrants in Nova Scotia who have played an important role in the supply-managed sector.
We're going to go now to Ms. Valdez, for six minutes.
Ms. Valdez.
Liberal
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Good afternoon to all of you. Thank you, Chair, and to all the witnesses who are joining us today.
I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill.
The first question I have is for Mr. Bilkes, Mr. McFall and Mr. Pelissero. You can comment on all of my questions.
What type of investments have your members made to strengthen our supply chain?
We can start with Mr. Bilkes.
Chair, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
Basically, we've been investing in our supply chains by increasing barn space, as well as reducing the environmental footprint, along with a lot of other things focused on food safety and animal care issues for our industries over the last number of years. That has been our focus.
Chair of the Board of Directors, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
I know Jean-Michel might have additional comments, but plant automation is, across the board, something that we view will strengthen our ability to not only be as effective and cost-effective as we would like to be as an industry overall, but also address some of the labour issues we're having.
Plant automation is a big opportunity that we see in our company and also in the industry at large.
Liberal
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Would your colleague or Mr. Pelissero like to comment?
Chair, Egg Farmers of Canada
Over the last number of years we've also done many things to make sure our farmers have all the tools necessary to get eggs to market. We have good collaboration with our members at CPEPC, which is the grading sector, and the processes in place that make sure there shouldn't be any disruptions with supply going to the market. When the market doesn't need as many eggs as happened here in COVID, we're able to adjust because we supply eggs for the domestic market.
I don't know if Tim has anything to add.
Liberal
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you.
The next question I'll pass over to Mr. Bilkes.
In terms of the Department of Agriculture, we've made strategic investments in place to secure our food system and support agriculture industries given this uncertainty with COVID-19.
Can you share what your members within your industry have utilized in terms of those programs?
Chair, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
I don't know if our members have used a lot of the programs for COVID-19 with AAFC. I'm sure there's more money that has gone into the processing sectors than directly to farmers.
Drew, do you have anything to add?
Drew Black Executive Director, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
Maybe I could just respond quickly.
Brian, I think you're correct in that. It has gone perhaps slightly more to other sectors. However, we do have some targeted investments as a result coming from AAFC for an on-farm investment program. A lot of that is just starting to get rolled out now. That's going to some of the investments and improvements that Mr. Bilkes already mentioned, such as on-farm efficiencies to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. There are a number of different priorities within that.
That is just getting rolling now on the ground.
Liberal
Rechie Valdez Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you.
I'll just pass this over so that my colleague can have time.
Liberal
Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Thank you very much.
I know there's not much time left, but I just wanted to follow up on one thing.
First, I'd like to commend you on the work that's being done in this sector to reduce greenhouse gases and other environmental aspects of the industry. This is an industry close to my heart. My aunt and uncle, Helen and Mike Dykstra, had a big family poultry farm. My cousin now continues to operate that. Also, coming from good Dutch stock, I know this is a very important part of our agriculture industry in Canada.
You were talking about this, Mr. Lambert. I was wondering if you could comment on the effectiveness of the agricultural clean technology program or the new agricultural climate solutions program. Have your members been able to take advantage of any of these programs in working to develop solutions to some of the climate challenges?
Chief Executive Officer, Egg Farmers of Canada
They haven't specifically as of yet, but we're looking really closely at it's applicability for us. It's of considerable interest to us.
That's important, but I guess I would just reiterate that when you think of the opportunity for Canada to be a global leader in agriculture helping mitigate the challenges of climate change, that's good for our domestic industry. It's good for export opportunities as well.
Really, while it's a start, it's a little bit of a drop in the bucket because a lot is needed. Some of the challenges we're facing with things like not being exempt from the carbon tax don't make it any easier for animal agriculture to find alternative solutions, be it the farming side or the grading and processing side.
I think there's a bit of a gap between what we have as readily available affordable new technologies and what we have to work with today.