I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 64 of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, April 24, 2023, the committee is beginning consideration of the 2023‑24 main estimates, specifically, vote 1 under Canadian Dairy Commission, vote 1 under Canadian Grain Commission, and votes 1, 5 and 10 under Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, referred to the committee on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Now I would like to welcome the Honourable Marie‑Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
On behalf of the committee, Minister, I want to acknowledge your tireless work to support Canadian families and farmers. Thank you for being here today to discuss the main estimates.
Thank you very much, Minister. It's great to see you.
We also have Stefanie Beck, deputy minister of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Let me recognize your new role and congratulate you. We wish you all the best in the days ahead in the name of our agriculture sector.
Also from the department we have Marie-Claude Guérard, assistant deputy minister, corporate management branch.
From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we have Sylvie Lapointe, vice-president, policy and programs; and Philippe Morel, vice-president, operations.
Colleagues, you know the drill. We'll allow for an opening statement from our minister of around five minutes.
I can give you a bit of extra time, Minister, if you'd like to finish up, after which we'll go right to questions.
The floor is yours, Minister.