I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 93 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food.
I will start with a few reminders: Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. Just so you are aware, the webcast will always show the person speaking, rather than the entirety of the committee.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday November 2, 2023, the committee resumes its study of Issues Relating to the Horticultural Sector.
I would now like to welcome the witnesses who will be here with us for the first hour. With us today is the Association des producteurs de fraises et de framboises du Québec, Ms. Stéphanie Forcier, acting executive director, who is joining us by videoconference.
Welcome, Ms. Forcier.
We also have, from the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, George Gilvesy, president, and Mr. Richard Lee, executive director. From Rollo Bay Holdings Limited, joining us by video conference is Alvin Keenan, owner-manager, from beautiful Prince Edward Island.
Thanks for joining in as part of the committee proceedings here today.
We're going to allow five minutes for opening remarks from each witness and each organization, and then we'll turn it over to questions.
Before I go too much further, I was reminded that February 27 is a big day for this committee, not just because we're studying horticulture, which is important, but also because Ms. Rood and Mr. Steinley have birthdays on the 27th.
We won't sing happy birthday because we don't want to proceed with that, and I didn't get you a cake, Lianne, but I'll distribute these cookies around the table. We'll do it that way.
Happy birthday, Lianne. Happy birthday to Warren when he gets here.
Without further delaying proceedings, let me turn it over to our witnesses.
Ms. Forcier, you have five minutes.