Agriculture Committee on Nov. 30th, 2023

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Being a seed potato grower on Prince Edward Island, I'm well aware of the devastation. I remember that, when PVYn hit, I had a warehouse full of potatoes. I lost three-quarters of the price overnight. Without question, the potato wart is devastating.

It went through a lot of different issues. Of course, the market was closed in the U.S. It had to be. The market was closed off P.E.I. because, of course, we had to make sure the wart did not spread, but we were able to work a deal with the U.S. and the rest of Canada to wash and sprout nip the potatoes, which is vitally important.

On the seed export side, there was some concern and a bit of annoyance, I guess you could say. I have to say that the CFIA—and this is a plug for them—came to the province, visited farms, and explained the situation and how important.... Potato producing is big business across Canada and big business in Prince Edward Island, a million-dollar business. They understand the importance of the American market being kept open.

We have to deal with the Americans. We have to deal with the provinces across the country, and, of course, that's not all that difficult. I dealt with the National Potato Council yesterday. They just want to help.

I can assure you that's what the seed potato growers in Prince Edward Island want to do. We want to create a situation where we're able to move our valuable seed to other parts of the world, and we will.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you very much, gentlemen.

The next speaker is Mr. Perron, who has the floor for six minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for coming, Minister. I would also like to thank Ms. Beck and Dr. Kochhar for their time and for making themselves available.

Minister, Quebec's vegetable producers sounded the alarm last summer after historic torrential rain. The situation was extremely difficult for producers. An average of nearly 60% of crops were lost. There was an appeal for help several months ago now. The Quebec government came through with interest-free loans, but the federal government has not yet responded.

Do you intend to do anything about this? The Quebec government repeated its announcement last week and requested activation of the AgriRecovery program.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Is that the advance program? Is that what you're asking?

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

I'm talking about the AgriRecovery program.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Oh, AgriRecovery. Of course, yes.

We have received the papers from Quebec, and we're evaluating them. Of course, we will do it as quickly as possible. Sometimes it's felt that it's not fast enough, but I have to admit—

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

So you're telling me yes, even though it hasn't yet been announced.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I certainly expect that, when you have devastation, that's what the programs are in place for. We want to make sure that happens.

I want to tell you that I met with the minister in Quebec, Mr. Lamontagne, who has been very helpful on many files.

Also, this is a problem in Quebec, in particular, and in some other parts of the country. You have a drought in one area, too much rain in another and a good crop in another, and that's all in the same zone, which makes it difficult for the AgriRecovery program.

It's certainly not that the federal government, the provincial government and the territories are not providing the funding. I'm not talking about your specific application. I was speaking with Minister Lamontagne and the situation in Quebec and other areas that.... We have so many variations. That's why I probably—

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

Minister, I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I don't have much speaking time.

I understand exactly what you're saying. I'm aware of all that, of the variations; what we have in Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a drought.

What's important is for the federal government to respond to Quebec's request as quickly as possible. I understand that your answer is yes. We also requested emergency one-time assistance. Our companies need liquidity, and funds. The Quebec government responded in various ways, including interest-free loans.

What are you willing to do about it? Agriculture is a shared endeavour. It's not solely up to Quebec to respond to the demands of our producers. The federal government also has a responsibility.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Yes, I'm fully aware of the program. In fact, the advance payments program is a program that I use as a farmer in Prince Edward Island. You're no doubt talking about the $350,000 limit that it is at. Of course, that's advantageous to the farmer, and I have to say that I like that, without question, but it's up the Minister of Finance to decide where that stays.

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

I apologize, Minister, for interrupting you again.

I'm talking about a one-time program that requires a specific response. The Government of Quebec released some new funds. What I'm asking you is whether you're going to find some funds in addition to those provided by Quebec to make funds available to our farm producers. I'm talking about new funds, not existing programs.

Dealing with climate change will require going off the beaten path because as we know, the risk management programs are no longer working. I think you know that these programs will have to be reviewed in depth. Right now, action is urgently required.

One request from farm producers is extending the deadline for repayment to the Canada Emergency Benefit Account program introduced during COVID‑19. It would not cost the federal government very much, but the Minister of Finance is categorically opposed to it.

Have you been arguing in favour of this extension? Can you tell our producers today that they will be getting a little more financial breathing space?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Well, of course we have to use the existing programs that are in place. That's certainly what we have to do.

Of course, with AgriInsurance, we're trying to encourage more farmers—

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

I am talking about the Canada Emergency Benefit Account program introduced during COVID‑19, Mr. MacAuley. We asked for a one-year extension of the repayment deadline. We've been asking questions about this regularly…

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Mr. Perron, Mr. Drouin is rising on a point of order.

I am therefore giving the floor to Mr. Drouin .

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I believe we are studying supplementary estimates (B) 2023‑2024.

My colleague should know that the Canada Emergency Benefit Account has nothing to do with the matter we are discussing today. He knows full well that authority for that rests with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Small Business.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

I see where you're coming from, Mr. Drouin, but we do normally allow some latitude for the questions.

Mr. Perron, if the minister is unable to answer the question, please ask about supplementary estimates (B) 2023‑2024 and other measures in general.

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

Mr. Drouin, we do not often receive the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food here at the committee. We have some latitude with respect to our questions.

We are talking about the financial status of liquidity support programs. If no one has an answer to my question, simply say so and I'll ask another question. I just need to be told if nobody has an answer for me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

One moment, Mr. Perron.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Quite simply, you have to ask somebody else. It's finance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Minister, for the benefit of our translators here, we can't have four people talking at one time.

I've stopped the clock. You have about a minute and a half left, Monsieur Perron.

Minister, when he's asking the question, I know you'll want to jump in because you want to engage, but we have to be fair to our good translators and make sure that they don't.... I know, Monsieur Perron, that you want to jump in, too. I know there will be a bit of back-and-forth, but we can't have people talking over each other.

You have 90 seconds left. It's over to you.

Minister, let him finish. Then I know you'll have the answer.

Go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, I understand that you don't necessarily have an answer to my question this morning.

However, I'm telling you, officially and publicly, that our farm producers need the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to work on their behalf to provide more liquidity for their farms. It's important, Minister. Right now, it's an emergency.

I would like to hear about the Local Food Infrastructure Fund. Can you explain what happened?

In some of our previous studies, witnesses told us that they were short of money, and that they needed more sources of investment capital.

The AgriInvest program was launched, with funding from $15,000 to $220,000. Several of my Bloc colleagues sent me letters they had received from businesses in their respective ridings. They had submitted applications under the program and were told apologetically that they didn't have much money, and that the rules of the program were going to be changed. Funding under the program would now be between 15,000 and $50,000, rather than $15,000 and $120,000, and and that it would only be for remote farming communities.

We have nothing against remote farming communities, except for the fact that some companies, in good conscience, completed applications under this program. The agri-food sector needs a lot of funding, Minister.

Are you going to be announcing more funding for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

One moment, Minister. Mr. Perron took almost 90 seconds to ask his question. Please give a brief answer, if you can.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

On your previous question, it's under the Minister of Finance.

Will I ask for more money? I'm noted for asking for money all the time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kody Blois]

Thank you very much, Mr. Perron and Mr. MacAulay.

It's Mr. MacGregor's turn now, and he has six minutes.

Please go ahead, Mr. MacGregor.