Evidence of meeting #57 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 consumers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Executive Director and General Counsel, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Amy is our expert on that. I'll leave it to her.
Articling Student, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Thank you, John.
Yes, I think you characterized restrictive covenants very well. They are a private law tool, which causes quite a challenge in discovering them. As you noted, they have been discovered in both Alberta and Nova Scotia.
One of the things we challenged the Competition Bureau to do is to examine how it can use its powers in the context of competition to address these restrictive covenants. Because restrictive covenants deal with property, that's generally a provincial matter, which is a bit of a challenge there.
We've challenged them to consider how competition powers could be used to address those because, ultimately, they impact competition by preventing grocers from moving into that space. Ultimately, they are a barrier to entry for new grocers or a barrier to entry for existing grocers into a market.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Would you say, Ms. Hill, that such restrictive covenants, at least on a prima facie basis, contravene the Competition Act? Would that be the argument that would be made?
Articling Student, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
That would be the argument that would be made, yes.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
I have a more general, maybe philosophical, question for both of you.
I was googling your website. It says that the purpose of your organization is to protect “consumer interest in regulated industries such as telecommunications, energy, financial services, privacy and transportation”.
Now, I don't see food there. Food seems to me to be about as essential as energy might be. Should food be more vigorously regulated in this country in your view?
Executive Director and General Counsel, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
I'll take that one, and I would say, yes, there are a number of sectors in Canada that don't have a dedicated regulator. Grocery and food is one of them.
For example, on the code of conduct, which, as we've said, we do support in principle, neither our group nor any other consumer group, to my knowledge, is sitting around the table with the grocers and suppliers. There's always a risk that you're going to have consumer interests lose in that kind of situation.
A dedicated regulator and some regulations are ways for consumers to get to be part of that regulation making and have a say. We would support any new regulation or regulator in this space.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
Monsieur Léveillé, would you say that supply management has been relatively successful in regulating prices while stabilizing production in your sector?
Chief Executive Officer, Nutri Group
Absolutely, without a doubt, I agree, given the situation over the past year. North America has been hit by avian influenza, especially in the U.S., and the supply management sector in Canada has been extremely robust, which has helped keep prices very reasonable for consumers.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you.
We know that the three pillars of supply management are production discipline, cost of production pricing and import controls—the famous three pillars. As far as I know, I think there are three major sectors of supply management in Canada: eggs, milk, and chicken/turkey, referred to as “poultry”.
In your view, should this successful model that provides Canadians with quality products, stable production for producers and fair prices for consumers and producers be expanded to other agricultural food products in Canada?
Chief Executive Officer, Nutri Group
That's an excellent question.
I think it would require a very long answer, as all Canadian productions are experiencing different realities.
Chief Executive Officer, Nutri Group
My expertise is in egg production. However, I believe that Canada has a responsibility towards international food. There are certainly challenges considering the pillars of supply management.
On the issue of egg production, which we are talking about today, supply management is extremely beneficial to our population, without a doubt.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I know you have a lot to say on it and we don't have that much time. I'm just wondering.... It's illogical to think that supply management would be successful for only those products. We have a food crisis in this country and in many other commodities. I'm just wondering what other products or commodities might be good candidates in your view. Have you ever given any thought to that, or is there—
Chief Executive Officer, Nutri Group
It's hard for me to answer your question on this aspect, as each agri-food sector has its challenges, its economic realities and its strategic advantages on the international stage. There is an economic ecosystem for each production sector, and some production sectors need exports. So it's hard for me to give you an answer on that.
However, I can tell you that the products you mentioned—milk, eggs, meat, chicken and turkey—represent positive benefits for Canadians because we effectively control our production, imports and prices.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
Okay, colleagues, now just before you hop out of your seats, I'm going to be very quick.
First of all, I'm going to ask the public interest organization that's here, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, two questions. We don't have time for your responses, but I would welcome any type of written correspondence to this committee in response. The Consumer Council of Canada, in the first panel, talked about the idea of creating a food consumer advocate. I would welcome your thoughts on whether or not that's a good idea. I recognize that you're already doing some in this space, but to Mr. Davies' point, maybe it's not specific to food.
Mr. Lawford, you just talked about the idea of some type of regulated entity or regulator. I would welcome your thoughts on whether that is in the federal jurisdiction or, because it's at point of sale, is actually more provincial.
Anything you could provide in writing to this group would be wonderful.
Colleagues, thank you for coming here early.
Let me thank the witnesses again: Mr. Léveillé, Madame Hill, Mr. Lawford and Mr. Archambault.
I have just two quick things to add. Ms. Koch from GIFS was not able to attend. There was some type of personal reason that she couldn't attend or a technical issue—I don't know. I'm asking for your unanimous consent to allow her speaking notes to be admitted as evidence so that they can be considered. I think that's pretty reasonable.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Kody Blois
[See appendix—Remarks by Alanna Koch]
The only other thing is on deadlines. We are working to go towards our study on animal biosecurity preparedness—under Monsieur Lehoux. We were working to try to get a deadline today. If that hasn't happened, I would ask that you please get your witness lists to the clerk by tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest. I apologize if that wasn't communicated very clearly in the past.
We're also working on our food price inflation study. Of course, this was our last panel. However, we do have our analysts working hard to make sure that it can be prepared. As you work on recommendations, the goal is to have that this week; so get those to our analysts, please. Thank you.
Colleagues, I'll let you get over to the House with 19 minutes to spare. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.