Agriculture Committee on May 17th, 2023

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I've been there, and I've seen and heard what they want. The Japanese, for example, want more Canadian products. They trust our system. They know that we offer high-quality products, so we have a closer relationship.

In Japan, our Canadian ambassador has been named as special envoy to the Prime Minister. It's kind of a second high-level representative as well.

We have opportunities with the CPTPP to open up new markets and increase market share.

Here in Canada, the beef sector, the pork sector and the grain sector are all looking forward to being there and joining forces as well. One of the objectives of our office there is to work even more closely with provincial representatives and industry representatives in the field.

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

I appreciate your perspective, and I'm really looking forward to when the study on the Indo-Pacific strategy comes here, to committee.

Going back to the main estimates, can you elaborate on the three major transfer payments related to the cost-shared programs, and how these programs will aim to support farmers here in Canada and enhance the resilience of our agriculture sector? You can speak to the Canadian agriculture partnership, the on-farm climate action fund or any of those.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

In the main estimates right now—as you know, the budget comes in a few tranches—we have the business risk management portion, which is not full at this date. As always, it's an estimation depending on the disasters we might have to face or the trade disruptions.

We don't know exactly how much will have to be distributed to farmers, but I can assure you that these programs are ready to be rolled out when a disaster happens, such as a drought, floods or a hurricane. Right now, we are following closely the fires in Alberta and, in B.C., maybe floods as well, I'm in contact with Minister Horner and Minister Alexis on that.

The agri-environmental programs, the on-farm climate action fund and the agricultural clean technology program.... Actually, we just launched a second call for proposals on the agricultural clean technology program. I would invite farmers to apply, and to apply fast, I would say, because the first call for proposals was subscribed to very rapidly. Farmers are eager to benefit from these programs and to increase the efficiency of their equipment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Ms. Valdez.

Mr. Perron, you have two and a half minutes.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Thank you, Chair.

Minister, I'd like to address the issue of genome editing monitoring and traceability. As you know, last year, the industry was fairly unanimous in calling for mandatory traceability, as I understand it, managed by the government.

But what you announced at the beginning of the month was traceability handled by the industry. There have been several reactions from groups who are not necessarily satisfied. No one is trying to block the technology. People just want it to be monitored, particularly in the organic industry. What do you have to say to those people?

Representatives of the Union des producteurs agricoles reacted by saying, among other things, that they were disappointed that traceability was not mandatory. You can't rely on it if it's not compulsory. How can you reassure us on this point?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I understand that the organic sector has concerns, but the vast majority of the agricultural sector in this country is delighted with our announcement.

The grain and seed sector has made giant strides. The traceability database is going to be complete and significantly more detailed. We're going to make sure it includes all seeds that have undergone genetic manipulation, whether it's genome editing or genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. This will be properly catalogued. We've set up an advisory committee that will closely monitor the situation and make recommendations.

As for the government, it will ensure monitoring. The industry is committed to having a comprehensive, regularly updated and easy-to-use database.

If you look at what's being done in the United States or elsewhere, you'll find that Canada offers the most transparent system. When I recently spoke to my colleagues in other countries, including Japan, Singapore and the United States, particularly in Washington, they told me they thought our system was based on common sense and they were looking at it closely.

The standards will therefore be imposed by industry, as is the case for many other agricultural standards.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but I don't have much time left.

You say the industry is delighted with the announcement. Certainly, but it will still be delighted if the government manages traceability. No one would be disappointed by that.

How will you ensure that the database is comprehensive if the industry is in charge of it?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Representatives of the organic sector sit on the advisory committee that will do the monitoring. I think that's a solid guarantee. If the committee discovers any flaws in the system, action will be taken. I have faith in the committee, because there are already several standards applied by the sector. The industry is committed to being transparent in this regard, and I'm sure it will be. We'll be following this closely and taking it very seriously.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you.

Mr. MacGregor, you have two and a half minutes, please.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister.

Over the last number of years, I have been fortunate to establish a great working relationship with the Deans Council—Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine. We have some fantastic institutions right across Canada. They see a lot of potential in making Canada's place in the world even better than it already is. However, in order to do that, of course, they are going to need some significant investment.

I think they are looking at the demographic crunch that is approaching and the ability of Canadian universities to bring forward people with the expertise and technical skills to find a place in 21st-century agriculture. They have come forward with a number of proposals, but a lot of them centre on establishing a funding program for some of the very dire infrastructure that Canada's agricultural universities have and need.

First of all, are you aware of their asks, and how have you, as minister, been advocating with your counterparts around the cabinet table to see that what they're asking for is met?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Was it in the last budget or the budget—?

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

It was in the most recent submission.

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Yes, but I'm thinking of the budget.

We have a $100-million investment in science that is specially dedicated to universities.

I could follow up with you with more details, unless Marie-Claude has more details on this one.

[Marie-Claude Guérard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

That's a program where the lead is with ISED and NSERC. That's where the $100 million is, but we're working jointly with them.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Okay. If you can submit further information, that would be great.

I have a quick one.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture asked about how the Canada Grain Act review is going.

This is a question that seems to come up every single time. Where are we with the Grain Act review?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

It's almost there. I'm almost there.

I hate to give dates; my team wants to kill me when I give dates. However, my personal target is to be able...let's say before Christmas, okay? I want to table it before Christmas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you, Mr. MacGregor, and thank you, Minister.

We'll go to our final round of questioning, five minutes to the Conservatives and five minutes to our Liberal colleagues.

Mr. Steinley, you have up to five minutes.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Madam Minister, what is Canada's rate of efficiency for fertilizer usage compared to other countries? Do you have that number?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

You take great pleasure in asking me for very precise figures.

Personally, what I'm striving for is really to give our agricultural producers the necessary means not only to reduce emissions arising from their production, because that's important for the fight against climate change, but also to increase their resilience. That's what concerns me.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thank you. I can help you, actually.

Meyers Norris Penny did a report that showed that our producers are 70% more efficient than those in all other jurisdictions in the country. That's seven-zero, 70% more efficient.

What would the cost be to our economy of the fertilizer reduction targets that you have? Do you have a number of what that will cost the Canadian economy?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I believe that this is going to be good for our economy. Canadian consumers and consumers around the world are looking for products that are increasingly sustainable. We're investing in that.

As you know, I'm always out in the field, travelling to every region of the country. Saskatchewan farmers visited me to thank me for helping them to improve. We have a shared vision for the future to ensure that they can meet consumer expectations and be more resilient to climate change.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Thank you, Madam Minister. I've talked to a lot of producers in Saskatchewan who might have a different opinion.

I'm not making these numbers up. They're from Fertilizer Canada's press release. They said, “Cutting fertilizer use to reduce on-farm emissions could cost growers nearly $48 billion over the next eight years”. That was a study done by Meyers Norris Penny. That's $48 billion that this fertilizer reduction target could cost the economy.

If you were the Prime Minister, and a minister in charge of a portfolio cost the economy $48 billion, what would you do with that minister?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Once again, this information is part of the analysis. It's an investment in the future, in our economy and in our farmers. They need to be resilient. They know this very well, because they are the first to adhere to these practices. They're grateful to us for supporting them.

When I'm out in the field, touring farms, and I visit businesses that are turning to innovation, I'm very encouraged and I think we may even exceed our goals.

[Warren Steinley, Conservative, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

I think any CEO who would lose $48 billion would be fired, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to switch gears. Talking about the new amendments put forward by CFIA on traceability, I had a conversation with both the CEO and the president of Canadian Western Agribition. They see this as being very cumbersome to add these new traceability regulations onto fairs, counties, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Agribition sees this as a big amount of red tape that it's going to have to cut through, making it much more cumbersome to track animals on and off yard, which it didn't have to.... They're also very concerned about actually having to tag animals at these fairs...if something goes wrong and they lose their tag.

Do you guys have any consultations with any fairs or exhibitions? This is really going to hurt 4-H and small town shows as well, because it's going to put a lot of pressure on these volunteers.

Who did you consult with before you brought in these new traceability amendments?

[Marie-Claude Bibeau, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

I will ask Ms. Lapointe to answer that question.