Finance Committee on July 20th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

It's your last question, Ms. Mathyssen.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

A lot of that farmland we talk about—that protection of sustainable farmland and the environmental consequences, of course—has been lost over the years through urban sprawl. Again, we speak of that debt of a lot of your members. Of course, what this bill could do to protect against foreign interests taking over and redeveloping that land and to ensure that it's protected from that urban sprawl is ultimately one key basis of this bill. Could you talk about what your members are facing in terms of that as well, and about how this bill specifically can protect against having foreign investors take over and redevelop?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Do you want to start, Ms. Robinson? Then we'll go to Ms. Bissonnette.

[Mary Robinson]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ultimately there are no farmers I'm aware of who would sell their land if their farm were profitable. One of the best things we can do to prevent the loss and erosion of arable land in this country would be to ensure that farms are profitable and that they have a financial backstop. Farming is a way of life and it's a business. It's an interesting mingling of the two, but ultimately, farmers carve off and sell land because of economic pressures, in my opinion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Ms. Bissonnette.

[Julie Bissonnette]

Thank you for your question.

It's interesting because, for the young farmers, access to land ownership and climate change will be part of their whole life. We're seeing that especially right now. With respect to climate change, as we often say, agriculture is definitely part of the solution. We take care of our land. We need guidance and support.

Ms. Robinson was talking about profitability. It's easy to say that the next generation of farmers must do this or that, but in order to do so, they must be supported. Access to land ownership is a more important issue, because we don't have the solution. If the perfect solution existed, we would have it. We really continue to promote access to farmland for future generations and, most importantly, the conservation of our land. Farmland is our wealth in Canada, because it feeds the people.

It will certainly be an issue in the coming years. In fact, it is already an issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you all.

We'll turn to Mr. Berthold for about three minutes, with the same for Mr. Kelly, and then Ms. Dzerowicz will wrap it up.

Mr. Berthold.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

First, perhaps because I am not a regular member of the committee, I do not share the enthusiasm of my colleague from the Bloc Québécois about the comments of the parliamentary secretary and yesterday's news release.

I would remind you that Bill C‑208 was voted on by Parliament, but all members of cabinet voted against it. The Department of Finance issued a news release noting that the bill would not be implemented until January 1, 2022.

As a former chief of staff, I can tell you that a news release of this nature is not issued by the Department of Finance without at least someone in the minister's office having seen and approved it. It's a very important item and a major change in terms of finance. More importantly, it is a major change in terms of the implementation of legislation that has been passed by Parliament. A news release of this nature could not be issued without the approval of the office of the Minister of Finance.

My question is for Ms. Bissonnette, whom I know well because I have met her on several occasions.

Without being afraid, would you be able to recommend, today, that a family proceed with the transfer of its farm, knowing that the government has already announced that there will be amendments to Bill C‑208?

[Julie Bissonnette]

Thank you for your question.

As I said, the last few months have not been easy. There has been added stress, but last night we had confirmation that the situation was resolved.

As for the future, for now, Bill C‑208 has come into force and the legislation is being implemented. That's what we've been hearing for the last little while. We assume that the situation is resolved. Of course, every business is different and every transfer is different. It is up to each business to actually validate the farm transfer.

For us, the bill has been in effect since it received royal assent. Clearly, we will be watching with great interest to see what happens next. For now, we are reassured by yesterday's confirmation and this morning's confirmation of the nuance that we were missing. We consider that it is settled.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Do you think the government should be clearer and more specific in writing? Should it give you specific information rather than just words in a news release?

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake for the transferors and for those who want to buy the farms. A lack of clarity has created uncertainty and vagueness that may cause some farm families to wait and to have no trust at all.

I remember that the government has often said in the past that it would not touch supply management. We were often told that there would be compensation. But basically, we still don't have a clue about the compensation resulting from the Canada‑United States‑Mexico Agreement.

Don't you think this adds a layer of uncertainty for all producers that is really not necessary?

[Julie Bissonnette]

Thank you for your question, Mr. Berthold.

The June 30 news release definitely created some uncertainty, but yesterday's clarified the situation.

However, again, we are relying on royal assent and the legislation coming into force. The rest, including the news release, is more about the future. As I said, since the legislation has been confirmed, we continue to focus on that.

It's certainly not ideal to send out the information in a news release when the legislation is already in effect, but at least we have the certainty that the situation is resolved.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Bissonnette.

I'm going to turn my time over to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

I'm sorry, Luc. We'll have to move to Mr. Kelly.

Pat, you're up.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Thank you. My question is for former speaker Milliken.

Thank you for your service to Canada during your long tenure as Speaker. During your time as Speaker, which spanned two governments and two prime ministers, did the government of the day ever sue the House of Commons and name the Speaker of the House in a lawsuit against the House of Commons?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'd certainly defer to you on the rules regarding relevance, but I believe that this meeting was called to discuss the coming into force of Bill C-208.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

To speak to the point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

What's your thought on the point of order? Go ahead.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

—the topic of the meeting, of this panel of the first meeting today, is the authority of Parliament.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Okay. I'll let the question go.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Thank you.

[Peter Milliken]

I don't recall any such lawsuit when I was there, no.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Does it concern you that the government would sue the elected members of the House over their authority?

[Peter Milliken]

I can't imagine how they could if they've exercised their authority properly.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Yes. They have done so, anyway.

Mr. Chair, if this is indeed the last panel, I will maybe let Mr. Maguire get a question in. I think I have a minute and a half left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Okay.

Mr. Maguire, you have a minute and a half.