Agriculture Committee on May 17th, 2023

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

Okay. Thank you for that.

You probably thought you were going to be safe from a PACA question today, but I'm going to prove you wrong. I was very happy to see the vote today on Bill C-280. This has been a long time coming. I guess my question is this. It's been a long journey. In the 42nd Parliament both this committee and the Standing Committee on Finance made recommendations. In this Parliament this committee and the Standing Committee on Finance again made recommendations.

I guess after seven and a half years of your government being in power, it's taken the opposition—it's taken us—to get this bill up front, debated and sent to committee. In other words, the initiative lay with us. Every time we tried to convince your government that this is what people wanted and needed and that this was what was needed to protect our perishable fruit and vegetable sector because existing tools did not work—and they have been explaining this to your department time and time again, ad nauseam—they lost their preferential access in the United States, which I sure hope came up in your discussions with your U.S. counterparts.

Why now? Why has your government now done an about-face, and why is it now going along with what has been demanded for so long?

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

As you know, when you're in government you have to make a list of priorities that will impact Canadians—

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

We're talking about taxpayer dollars though.

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

It takes a lot of time in the House, in the parliamentary agenda.

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

It's not a government bill though.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Mr. MacGregor, you asked a question. I'm quite interested in the minister's response, and then you can engage.

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

We were not against it, but it did not get the priority spot, so we'll do that with a private member's bill, and at the end of the day it will be good for our farmers.

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

Okay. It's better late than never.

You may be aware that our committee, of course, spent one of its meetings looking at the recent plant closure by Olymel in the region of Quebec. That happened in Quebec. Tomorrow it could be in the region of my home province of B.C.

The irony, of course, is that our committee has completed a study on processing capacity in Canada. We have identified some of the major deficiencies in the system, such as that too much of our processing capacity is tied up in large corporations. When they go under, they leave our primary producers in a really very difficult spot.

This is a private company. I understand that we can't get too involved in the private affairs of a single company, but from the system as a whole, what have you learned from what has happened with Olymel, and what steps do you plan on taking in the immediate future to address that processing capacity and those weaknesses that exist throughout the country?

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

You're right, and COVID has shown us even more how depending on two big ones, the beef industry and a few more, and the pork industry, makes us more vulnerable. That's why it has been identified as a priority in the sustainable Canadian agricultural partnership.

If you look at the Guelph statement, you will see that the supply chain is there. That is also why there is funding available through the provinces, with 60% federal funding to strengthen our regional supply chains.

As you said, these are private affairs, but this is something I witness when visiting farmers all across the country. It is an issue that we're looking at with the provinces. Obviously, the CFIA stands ready to support newcomers who would like to put in place or implement new processing facilities in the country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you very much to you both.

Now it's over to Mr. Lehoux for five minutes.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon, Minister.

You were just discussing the closure of the Olymel plant in Vallée‑Jonction, which is in my riding. I have to tell you how disappointed I was about that, especially because the plant generated a lot of jobs. Farmers are also very worried. Canada exports 70% of its pork, as we know. Quebec is a major exporter of pork. The plant closure is going to affect the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and perhaps even Manitoba.

Ms. Bibeau, you're a Quebecker and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Why haven't you said anything about the closure? It was announced four weeks ago.

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

I'm following the situation closely, to be sure. I had a long talk with Minister Lamontagne yesterday. The plant closure was a business decision, but I understand how stressful it is for workers and farmers. The situation at Olymel is serious, and we are looking at how we can provide support. Mr. Lamontagne is keeping a close eye on the situation in Quebec, and he knows he can count on me, depending on the potential measures that emerge.

Funding is available under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and supply chains are the priority.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Minister, the current business risk management programs don't offer any funding for this. I've heard from a number of farmers on the subject.

The plant is closing, and we may feel the impact sooner than we think. The hogs are in the fattening period as we speak, but the plant could close before it's time for slaughter.

Have you considered creating new programs? Do you have anything you want to announce to businesses?

Most of them are family-run, and farmers are very worried given how tough the past year has been.

Does the government intend to create a business risk management program to address this problem specifically?

Canada is a pork-exporting country, after all.

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

I understand your concerns, and I have to tell you that I share them.

I also understand the stress on farmers and the people who work at the plant. I repeat, it was a business decision.

The first response has to come from the province, so Quebec in this case. I have to let the people in the industry do their jobs. Pork producers and buyers have agreed to reduce regional production. Certain steps have to be followed.

As the saying goes, you can't put the cart before the horse.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

I don't want you to put the cart before the horse, Minister, but the plant is going to close.

I realize it's a private company, but keep in mind that there's a monopoly in the sector. The plant's closure will affect not only Quebec, as I said earlier, but also other provinces in the country.

Personally, I think the federal government has to put its foot down and do something quickly to help farmers. Last week, we heard from Ontario hog farmers, and they talked about how worried they were.

That means the government needs to establish a program right away to help get these businesses through the crisis. It won't fix everything, but it will at least give them some support.

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

There's already Quebec's farm income stabilization insurance program, or ASRA. The program I meant to refer to earlier was the regional slaughterhouse competitiveness support program, or PACAR. That program, administered by Quebec and 60% funded by the federal government, helps companies in cases such as plant takeovers. As for risk management programs, once again they are dedicated to cases of lost income.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

However, we're talking about loss of income due to the need to move the hogs several hundred kilometres when the plant closes. Producers need help now, not six years from now.

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

I understand the situation very well. I'm following the file very closely with Mr. Lamontagne, but things must be done in order. It's premature for me to confirm any measures the federal government might take.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Very well.

With regard to importing chickens from Ukraine, it was mentioned earlier that some of the products had been tested.

Are you able to reassure Canadian consumers about the domestic impact of these products? How will these products end up in the Canadian food chain?

Among the chickens that were tested, those that didn't meet our standards were withdrawn. Can you reassure the public that the chickens that were not tested do meet standards?

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

The first 10 shipments of chickens, from each company, are tested thoroughly and comprehensively. In addition, when a container is revealed to contain substandard chickens, we test fifteen shipments. I believe that after three instances of non-compliance, the company is rejected.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

I'm sorry, but your time is up, Mr. Lehoux. I added a bit more time for the response, but now it's expired.

Ms. Valdez, you have five minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses for joining us today, as well as you, Minister Bibeau, and your officials.

Through you, Mr. Chair, I'll direct all my questions to Minister Bibeau.

You mentioned in your opening the Indo-Pacific strategy. With the opening of the very first Indo-Pacific agriculture and agri-food office in the region, can you tell us more about how the Indo-Pacific strategy and upcoming office have been received by our Indo-Pacific partners as well the overall agriculture sector?

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

It went very well. I was in Japan not so long ago, and in Singapore. I had the chance to discuss it with my counterparts, with the representative of Canadian businesses over there and with buyers of Canadian agricultural and agri-food products. They were all very excited about that. I think the strong presence of a team located in the region from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, trade commissioners and people from CFIA will help us develop new markets, manage even more efficiently some challenges that we might have, and reassure our partners. It is very promising.

While I was in Singapore, I was at a food show as well. I witnessed the rollout of our new Canada brand, and I was very proud of what I saw.

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

Thank you.

How do our Indo-Pacific partners anticipate that these initiatives will contribute to the advancement of Canada's agri-food exports?