Agriculture Committee on May 17th, 2023

[Sylvie Lapointe, Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency]

We haven't yet put the regulations in place. We are out consulting under Canada Gazette, part I. There is a tremendous amount of opportunity for fairs and other interested parties to give us feedback, which we are getting. Then we will take that feedback and again engage with people. There will also be a second round of consultations.

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

Thank you very much.

I have a few right here, so please take a look at what they're saying, because it's making it very hard for on-the-ground volunteers to try to keep these shows running if these amendments are put forward. That's the feedback we've had so far.

My last question is going to be around electronic logging devices and transporting of livestock. As predicted, the animal transportation regulations your government implemented are causing havoc, because there aren't the safe rest stops to load and unload cattle when using these electronic logging devices.

Have you heard feedback from the transportation companies? Are you looking at changing some of these regulations? They're creating unsafe atmospheres for both drivers and the animals that are being transported.

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

We are currently discussing that issue with the departmental team and the Minister of Transportation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you very much, Minister and Mr. Steinley.

Last, but not least, we'll start with Mr. Louis online. I think he might be splitting or sharing with Mr. Turnbull.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Chair. Yes, I will be splitting my time with Mr. Turnbull.

I want to thank the officials for being here.

Thank you, Minister, for being here today, and for visiting my riding in Kitchener—Conestoga recently for this year's first local harvest, which was by maple syrup producers. I appreciate that.

We all know that one of the challenges for farmers is the need to pay up front for various inputs and expenses. Returns on farmers' investments typically come in the fall, after the harvest is complete and crops are sold. The time gap between expenses and revenues can sometimes cause financial strain for farmers. They have ongoing costs that need to be covered throughout the growing season, which is why the advance payments program is such an important and popular loan program for farmers, helping to alleviate that burden of upfront costs.

In our latest budget, the government once again raised the interest-free portion of the advance payments program.

Through you, Chair, can the minister share more details about the advance payments program—its importance and the positive impact it can have for our hard-working farmers in my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga or anywhere in Canada?

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

Yes, of course I can.

The advance payments program is exactly meant to provide a loan in the beginning of the season and then give them an interest-free portion, which has been increased up to $350,000 this year. If we add it to last year's, it reaches about $84 million in savings for farmers. They can get the loan early in the season and then proceed with their reimbursement later on, when it's the right time for them to sell. It's a really great program. I wish that we all could promote this program. It could be used by more farmers.

I've been told recently in Ontario, actually, that young farmers particularly appreciate the program. It brings them into AgriStability at the same time. It's helping new farmers as well.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you. It's nice to know it has been increased, so I appreciate that.

I'd like to share my time with Mr. Turnbull.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Louis, and thanks, Minister, for being here.

I have a few short-answer questions for you, if you don't mind.

One of them is, what is the size of the typical farm in Canada?

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

The typical farm could be seen in different ways in different regions. If we say “the average”, it's 809 acres.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

It's 809 acres. Okay.

What percentage of Canadian farms are 5,000 acres or more?

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

It's 3%.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

It's 3%.

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

Yes.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

That seems like a very small number. Are the farms of 5,000 acres or more typical farms in Canada? I guess the answer is, obviously, no.

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

Yes, that's why I told you...if it's typical in one region, I don't know. However, I wouldn't call it “typical” when I know the average farm is 809 acres.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

When some people use the example of a 5,000-acre farm to demonstrate the impact of the price on pollution, do you think that's a little misleading?

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

When we are calling a typical farm one of 5,000 acres and projecting to 2030, without taking into consideration all the new practices and innovations that will take place between now and then, I don't think that reflects what the reality will be when we get there.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

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

It's definitely not for an average 809-acre farm.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I appreciate that. Thank you for the clarification.

You mentioned innovation, which relates to another line of questioning I want to pursue with you.

This week is Canadian Innovation Week. We know how important technological innovation is to our agricultural industry. It allows farmers to be more productive and competitive. It also provides solutions to make their production more sustainable. I understand we're working on these issues with our allies in the G7 and G20. One of the latest forums is the agriculture innovation mission for climate, or AIM4C, which is a U.S.-U.A.E. initiative that brings together over 50 countries to discuss agricultural innovation initiatives.

Minister, I understand you were in Washington and participated in this summit. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Minister, we are wildly over time on the five minutes, but—

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Wildly...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

—as your chair, I will give you a brief moment to reflect on your trip to Washington.

Thank you.

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

Very quickly, it was very impressive. I came back from this mission thinking we would not only reach but surpass our climate objectives.

I also took the opportunity to meet with Secretary Vilsack, of course, and with farmers and processors in the beef sector, because I wanted to be clear that.... No one has mentioned COOL, but I want to say this is something I'm following very closely. I wouldn't want any mandatory COOL in the U.S. Secretary Vilsack keeps reassuring me in terms of voluntary.... Still, depending on the way it's being done, it could impact our supply chain.

I took the opportunity to be there and enjoy all the innovation, but also to have this honest conversation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you, Minister. That ends our period of questions.

I know you have to run, Minister, so we're going to let you do that.

Unfortunately, I have to go, as well.

Mr. Barlow, I know you're going to take the chair for the second hour, for the officials.

We're going to suspend for two or three minutes; then we'll get our second round of questioning started.

Thank you very much, Minister.

Thank you to all the officials for being here. We'll see you in just a few minutes.