Evidence of meeting #3 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was china.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Coteau
Thank you very much.
I'll go to the Liberals.
MP Harrison, you have five minutes.
Liberal
Emma Harrison Liberal Peterborough, ON
Thank you.
Ms. Farrell, I met with Food and Beverage Canada last week. We discussed lots of items, such as the new crush facility that is being developed with Cargill.
You've mentioned this multiple times. I know this is really broad, but do you have any specific adjustments that you'd make to the programs to better support your industry?
Chief Executive Officer, Food and Beverage Canada
One thing we've been talking about a lot over the past week is that we tend to prioritize funding for things that are new and innovative—things that haven't been done before. When it comes to food and beverage manufacturing, the definition of innovation is different. It isn't necessarily a new patent or discovering a new technology. Sometimes it's applying technology in a new way. Sometimes it's adopting a technology in Canada that we didn't previously have. Even though getting a new oven might not sound exciting for a food and beverage manufacturing plant, that could change them from an efficiency standpoint.
In terms of where the government has been prioritizing its funding, I think it is recognizing that the definition of innovation looks different for this industry.
Liberal
Emma Harrison Liberal Peterborough, ON
Thank you.
I forgot to say that I'm going to share my time with the member next to me.
This is for Ms. Farrell again.
In our meeting, there were really strong concerns about interprovincial trade barriers and the reduction of some of the regulations around that. How can we reduce interprovincial trade barriers to make trade easier while maintaining the standards we have?
Chief Executive Officer, Food and Beverage Canada
We do have concerns with Bill C-5 if it's not going to exempt food. Those concerns relate to our ability to export, food safety and food traceability.
Instead, we've been advocating for identifying those provincially regulated companies that want to be federally regulated, that want to be able to export, identifying what supports they need to get there and then providing the support to them directly to ensure that they can meet those standards. In light of our efforts to diversify markets, we think this would actually help that.
Liberal
Emma Harrison Liberal Peterborough, ON
Thank you so much.
Mr. Fulton, I can't believe that no one's mentioned your excellent cow painting in the background.
Liberal
Emma Harrison Liberal Peterborough, ON
If you don't mind, I'd like you to elaborate a little bit on what market access is like in Japan and Vietnam. I know you mentioned the 8% tariff in Korea, but could you just expand a little bit further?
President, Canadian Cattle Association
We have exceptional market access in Japan, specifically because of the CPTPP. It was what we consider to be the highest quality trade agreement, which we benefited from.
What was the other country? Were you asking about Vietnam as well?
President, Canadian Cattle Association
Vietnam represents an emerging market for Canadian beef. As was mentioned in the previous session, it does take a long time to develop those relationships and make those connections, but once they're secure, you can rely on those personal relationships to continue on unless there is some other big threat, tariff or disruption to them.
Vietnam—again, as part of the CPTPP—provided Canadian beef farmers with preferred market access. That is what allowed us to really start the trajectory on improved access.
Liberal
Liberal
Marianne Dandurand Liberal Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you so much.
Madam Farrell, you very briefly mentioned the workforce issue in your sector. I think it's a critical issue that we don't address enough. We've been hearing a lot about the fact that, presumably, we don't need temporary foreign workers. Can you talk about how important temporary foreign workers are in your industry?
Can we do anything without them? How can we deal with maybe having fewer temporary foreign workers? Is your industry ready to downscale this workforce?
Chief Executive Officer, Food and Beverage Canada
Foreign workers—not just temporary foreign workers—are essential to our workforce in food and beverage manufacturing. I don't think that will change in the coming years because we're also seeing that our workforce is aging compared to other industries.
We have provided recommendations to the federal government as to how to support our companies when it comes to immigration. That is expanding pathways to permanent residency for workers who are already in our plants and are contributing to their communities. It's maintaining the 20% cap that we currently have under the temporary foreign worker program. That's not to say that all companies are currently meeting that cap, but it is helpful, given the changing nature of the workforce. It's also extending expiring work permits, which we see across some of our plants.
[Technical difficulty—Editor] workers and foreign workers are essential to our plants.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Coteau
That's five minutes. Thank you so much.
Mr. Perron, you have the last two minutes, please.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll go back to Mr. Caron, specifically about foreign workers in the sector and the agricultural sector's needs.
I spoke earlier about the advance payments program, which could cover a broader range of productions—that was actually a request that was made before the tariffs were imposed, so it would be relevant.
Aside from that program, what does the agricultural community need? You're in a good position to answer this question: You sat at the table with the former prime minister during the consultation.
September 22nd, 2025 / 5:45 p.m.
General President, Union des producteurs agricoles
The question was asked when it came to foreign temporary workers, and I agree with the answer. We need support. It should be noted that these workers hold one in three jobs in Quebec's agricultural sector. If we succeed in developing agriculture and agri-food, it's thanks to these people who come and work here.
Mr. Fournaise would surely agree with me that it's important to stay the course when it comes to processing. Otherwise, if the pace of processing decreases, I will suffer the consequences as a producer. That's paramount. Access to these funds has been simplified in recent years, which has been beneficial.
One of the topics we haven't touched on yet is the Canada Infrastructure Bank, or CIB. That's an interesting program that has many millions of dollars in funds but that unfortunately isn't suited to our SMEs, meaning our businesses, our farms. That program should be adapted because large sums of money are involved. However, people are having trouble getting these subsidies.
When it comes to diversification and investments aimed at developing and growing our exports, we need resources like the CIB's to support us and to avoid increasing the debt in the agricultural sector, because we also have to think about the young people to whom we want to transfer businesses. That's another area where we're noticing a slowdown and feeling the impacts.
We have to have a vision not only for tariffs, but also for the development of agriculture and agri-food.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Coteau
Thank you, Mr. Perron.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our witnesses today. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Thank you for all of your contributions to this discussion. Most of all, thank you for the contributions of your sector to helping build a strong Canada. It is an economic pillar. Thank you to all your members and everyone you represent. We appreciate your time, and we thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.