Evidence of meeting #9 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 products.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
That's not all for destroyed potatoes.
We'll work with the P.E.I. farmers on their potatoes. Last week, we had a great conversation with the P.E.I. Potato Board relevant to our trip to Mexico and how we may be able to access the Mexican market with P.E.I. potatoes, along with Alberta potatoes.
Conservative
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
Thanks, Minister. Alberta does grow more potatoes than P.E.I., but that's okay.
On the sustainable agriculture strategy, you had a number of stakeholder groups leave that initiative because they felt that they were not being listened to and the ideas of the agriculture strategy did not align with the needs of producers.
Is your government going to move ahead with the 30% reduction in fertilizer use and 50% reduction in pesticide use, yes or no? What will be the impact on loss of yield if those initiatives are followed through?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
Based on the fertilizer, I think there was a lot of misinformation when that was set out. It's a voluntary program, obviously. I think that likely answers the question.
Liberal
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Thank you.
Minister, [Technical difficulty—Editor] from the minister and have an opportunity to discuss your mandate and some of the important work that's happening in the industry.
Minister, as you know as a fellow Atlantic Canadian, this year was the worst year in recent memory for trout in Newfoundland and Labrador, indeed in Atlantic Canada and probably in other parts of the country as well. Some experts have called it a once-in-50-years event, which resulted in a shortage of forage for the dairy, beef and other sectors.
Can you share with us some of the steps the government is taking to help producers in Newfoundland and Labrador and the Atlantic region?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
We have the BRM programs that they have access to. Although Newfoundland was not a signatory to those programs, we were working closely with the Newfoundland government at the time. Then, when they went into an election, they went into caretaker mode.
We've reached out to them, and they've reached out to us. Right now we haven't heard back from the new government.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Thank you very much.
I will endeavour to reach out to the new government to get them to reach out to you.
I know that you, as someone who comes from P.E.I., have first-hand knowledge of the importance of the temporary foreign worker program in agriculture, seafood, food processing and many other sectors. We heard from the Leader of the Opposition and members of the Conservative caucus about cutting that program, which makes it clear they don't appreciate how vital it would be to sectors not only in our region but across the country.
Can you speak to the importance of the temporary foreign worker program in this sector, in the fishery and in processing, and tell the committee what you heard from this sector in conversations?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
I think it's extremely important. It's a 50-year-old program. I even had this discussion with the secretary in Mexico last week. He was concerned about the temporary foreign worker program. It's not just about our country; it's about their country as well. We need to recognize this when we're dealing with trying to access more trade and more export into those countries.
It's not just farming. It's food processing. It's the fisheries. It's an extremely important tool for rural Canada right across the country. It doesn't matter where you are or where you're from. I think deep down that it's not the right time to be using it as a political weapon. It's not the right tool to use as a political weapon, because there's not a community in this country, likely, that doesn't have foreign workers in it, who are being utilized because they have to be utilized.
I think it's an extremely important program. Are changes to it needed? Maybe they are. I don't know; that's not my bailiwick. I can tell you that without it, we wouldn't export over $100 billion in products out of this country, point blank.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
I would agree with you on that, because in my riding, temporary foreign workers are in agriculture, in seafood and in processing plants. They are a very important part of our labour supply for keeping those industries operating.
Minister, you'll soon be in negotiations with our provincial and territorial counterparts for the next agricultural policy framework. Can you tell us what your priorities are going into the negotiations? How do you intend to best protect farmers?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
That's a good question.
I'm the Minister of Agriculture. The consultation process has to take place. It's more important to hear from agriculture sectors and farmers themselves to ensure we're doing everything possible within that policy framework that's going to help them. If it's a change to the BRM program, maybe we need to look at it. If it's a change to another program, maybe we need to look at it.
My job is to basically facilitate and advocate on behalf of farmers, and then make those decisions not just for economic value but for sustainability to ensure farmers are prosperous going forward for generations to come.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
I want to mention that every province is not the same when it comes to negotiations. I know these partnerships are negotiated province by province, but not every province is the same. In Newfoundland and Labrador, what is needed to move our agriculture forward is not the same as in another province.
How much time do I have?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Coteau
You don't have to take all your time if you don't want to.
Are you good?
Liberal
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Good afternoon, Minister. Thank you for joining us today.
We appreciate the effort you made to start your opening remarks in French. It was not easy, but you’ll get better with practice.
I’ll ask some quick questions. Please keep your answers short.
Two days ago, the Union des producteurs agricoles de Lanaudière issued a public statement calling on the government to provide more financial support for agriculture. While some countries dedicate an average of approximately 2% of their budgets to agriculture, Canada commits less than 1% of its budget to the sector.
Will you have some good news for us on November 4? Have you talked to your colleague the Minister of Finance to tell him about the importance of the agriculture and agri-food sector?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
When I get up to speak, I know some of you have heard me when I start talking about how important agriculture is, with 7% of the GDP in this country, and the Prime Minister wanting to advance our economic standing within the G7. We can't do it without agriculture. I don't think it's lost on anybody at this point.
It is going to be a fiscally responsible budget. That's what we were elected on, and that's what people want us to do. I can tell you that our voice is loud and clear at the table relevant to agriculture.
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
We can therefore expect some budget cuts in a number of sectors on November 4, but there won’t be any in agriculture. Did I understand that correctly?
Liberal
Heath MacDonald Liberal Malpeque, PE
No, I'm not going to say that. We need to understand that there has been a lot of duplication in agriculture over the years. I started to see that when I first took over. We need to streamline agriculture as best we can without losing any of the priorities for our farmers and ranchers.