Agriculture Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2026

[Diane Allan]

As you mentioned earlier, on November 19 the regulations under the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act came into play to protect the health and safety of Canadians and the Canada trade diversification goals. The regulations provided an exception for food regulated under the Safe Food for Canadians Act.

With that said, as I mentioned in my opening remarks, we are working across multiple provinces under different pilots in order to see how we can facilitate movement of product, whether it's slaughter capacity or getting new entities licensed to the Safe Food for Canadians Act.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Excellent.

Will there be a reduction in food inspectors at processing plants in Canada?

[Diane Allan]

As I mentioned earlier, we are trying to protect our front line. Cuts are going to be very much in the back office-oriented areas. The front line is protected and preserved, and food safety will not be impacted.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you.

I'll just turn to you, Mr. Chair, for a second.

I am substituting in today for Mr. Bragdon, and there's a motion that I believe I need to read, which was put on notice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Okay.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

The motion is this:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), in light of the federal government’s decision to close multiple Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centres and experimental farms, including the Lacombe Research and Development Centre in Alberta and the Nappan Experimental Farm in Nova Scotia, the committee undertake an emergency study to examine the government’s rationale and decision-making process, as well as the economic and research impacts, including job losses and effects on rural communities; that the study commence as soon as possible; that the committee hold up to four meetings or more as needed; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Thank you.

We did receive correspondence today that I don't believe I've circulated yet, but it's from the department specifically speaking to this issue, so I'll have that distributed as well.

The motion was put on notice last week. The motion is now being moved, and we'll open it up for debate, starting with MP Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Thank you Mr. Chair.

I think one of the proposals we discussed among the parties was that it would be good to have a subcommittee meeting. I suggest Thursday, because we have a lot of motions and a lot of studies, so we need a work plan, and then we can see how this motion will fit into it.

I suggest that we postpone voting on this motion until we come up with a plan, and then we vote on the full plan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Okay.

Mr. Epp, go ahead.

[Dave Epp, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON]

Yes, I think there was a discussion before. I would be in favour of adopting the motion and allowing the scheduling, because there are a whole bunch of motions and a whole bunch of studies that are looking to be left up to the subcommittee on Thursday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Monsieur Perron.

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

Thank you Mr. Chair.

First, an amendment to the motion would need to be proposed to add the research centre in Sainte-Foy. Mr. Vachon will send the text of the motion to the clerk.

As for the motion, I think it's useful. It could be dealt with by the subcommittee, so we can continue the study before us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Are you making an amendment to the motion based on adding this piece, or did you say you were going to circulate something?

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

Actually, all I want is for the Sainte-Foy research centre to be added to the motion. I also said that we could hold a subcommittee meeting right after the committee meeting, if we have the necessary resources to do so. We could then continue the current study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Okay.

We'll go back to MP Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Thank you Mr. Chair.

I'd like to know one thing.

I also want to propose amendments to the motion. I would have preferred to discuss all this during a subcommittee meeting.

My question is mainly procedural. Do we have to vote on the motion now, or can we wait and do it in subcommittee?

We could postpone discussion of the motion until then or create a full work plan. Otherwise, we'll get into a debate, because I also want to propose amendments to the motion.

I just want to know what the procedure is. Do we absolutely have to vote now by answering yes or no?

I'm a bit confused.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

I can answer that question.

Mr. Bonk has moved a motion that was put on notice a week ago. The motion is on the floor now. We're in debate, and the only ways to proceed are that either Mr. Bonk withdraws the motion or we vote on the motion. Those are the only two pathways we have.

Currently on the floor, we do have the motion. I'll correct myself, because there aren't only two pathways. There are obviously many pathways, but currently on the floor we have a motion that's open for debate.

Are there any other speakers?

Go ahead.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I'd just like to mention that it's been the consensus of this committee to view everything we do here through an economic lens to help support agriculture. This is particularly time-sensitive, so the sooner we can move this along, the better, I hope.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Mr. Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Are we still talking about Mr. Perron's amendment? If so, I think it's important to add the research centre in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, to the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

I didn't hear an official moving of an amendment to the motion. He said that he was going to circulate something. He didn't say that he was going to move that we amend the motion.

Monsieur Perron.

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

I mentioned it when I suggested continuing the discussion later. I agree with Mr. Gourde. I insist on adding the Sainte-Foy research centre to the list in the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Okay.

We have an amendment on the floor.

MP Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Is it possible to adjourn the debate on this motion and reopen the discussion at the next meeting, once the subcommittee has met and considered the entire work plan until June?

At that point, we'll know exactly how many days we can allocate to this study, and we'll be able to propose amendments.

I therefore suggest that we adjourn the debate on this motion and revisit it at the next meeting. By then, the subcommittee will have met and we'll have considered all the proposed motions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

The motion is to adjourn debate on the actual motion.

It's a dilatory motion. There's no debate on this. I will call the vote now.

The vote is on MP Chatel's motion to adjourn debate on this motion as amended.