Okay.
Evidence of meeting #59 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 bee.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #59 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 bee.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Apiculteurs et Apicultrices du Québec
We had an incredible fall, but those weeks of heat allowed the varroa to reproduce. The population of varroa in a hive doubled or tripled every two or three weeks. If there is only one varroa in the hive, there are only two after a while, but when there are 1,000, near the end of the season, it's explosive.
In addition, there were a few weeks the following spring. It was 20 degrees Celsius in April. That had never been seen in Quebec. So there was an extra month or month and a half during which the varroa multiplied. That doesn't jibe with the calendar normally followed in Quebec and Canada for treating against varroa.
That is why we are asking to have access to products and tech transfer teams in beekeeping that would make it possible to adapt treatments against the varroa. We need funding in Quebec and Canada to discuss techniques.
The provinces all have different techniques, but they are not necessarily known from one province to another. So we have to engage in dialogue and research.
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I imagine the federal government could help coordinate it all. We might arrange for everyone to talk to one another, find the most effective solutions, and apply the solutions jointly. Is that what we're talking about?
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Okay.
Since I have a minute left, I would like to quickly get a main recommendation from each of you three. You briefly mentioned it in your opening statements.
Mr. Doyon, is there a recommendation you would like to see in the report?
6:35 p.m.
President, Les Ruchers D.J-F. Inc.
I recommend that a beekeeping support program be put in place in Canada.
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
April 26th, 2023 / 6:35 p.m.
Manager, National Policy, David Suzuki Foundation
Once again, I recommend that there be discussion of the role of biodiversity protection in connection with the new commitments to ensure the sustainability of this industry.
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
6:35 p.m.
Vice-President, Apiculteurs et Apicultrices du Québec
I recommend self-sufficiency in Canadian beekeeping, which also includes disease management.
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
Denis Trudel Bloc Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Okay.
Thank you very much, all three of you.
I have no other questions, Mr. Chair.
6:35 p.m.
NDP
The Acting Chair NDP Alistair MacGregor
Thank you very much.
Colleagues, in the interest of time, I'm going to forgo my line of questioning, but I would like to thank our three witnesses for helping guide our committee through this study.
Second, I would like to thank committee members for placing their trust on my shoulders for this hour. It has been a pleasure to be your chair.
I have a few reminders before we adjourn.
To all members and staff, the deadline to submit the list of witnesses for our Indo-Pacific strategy study is May 4 at 4 p.m. The deadline to submit recommendations for the environmental contribution of agriculture, this current study, is May 8 at 4 p.m.
With that, colleagues, this meeting is adjourned.