Go ahead, Frédéric.
Evidence of meeting #28 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cfia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #28 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cfia.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Go ahead, Frédéric.
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
We are constantly in discussions with producers to monitor the situation of the surplus. While we don't have precise quantities of what food is currently in surplus, we are confident that we will receive it, working with food banks, which are already discussing with producer groups to take advantage of the program and would be able to identify the food that is probably the closest to the end of its shelf life and be able to prioritize the support to those products that have a shorter shelf life.
Some of the surplus food is in storage in frozen form and can last several months. However, some types of food, such as potatoes, have a much shorter shelf life, so we'll try to prioritize these products that have a shorter life.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Thank you.
In April, the government announced a $100-million emergency fund to support national, regional and local organizations across Canada that would be able to reach people and communities experiencing food insecurity and who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Do you think this fund is helping this type of program? Are you collecting any data?
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Steve, perhaps you would be better placed to answer that question.
5:20 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
We have received indication that it certainly has been helping. A large amount of the funds has been distributed out to major food bank organizations and has gotten out to smaller organizations across the country as well.
I don't currently have data in terms of to what degree all of the funds have been expended or what impact it has had, but we can certainly see what information we can provide back to the committee.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON
Okay. I'll go back to CFIA.
What steps is CFIA taking to ensure our food supply remains strong if a possible second wave of COVID-19 happens in the fall?
5:20 p.m.
Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Maybe I'll start and Theresa can add.
We're trying to learn lessons from the last couple of months about how we have to behave in food plants. We've also built some security measures through our compliance approaches on regulations so that we have procedures available now should there be shortages if there is an uptick in the number of cases in the fall.
We've really tried to learn the lessons from the last couple of months.
5:25 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
I would add that we continue to refine our business continuity plan. We have defined what our critical services are and we are prepared to focus on delivering those critical services in the event of a resurgence of cases.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Ms. Iuliano, do you speak French at all? If you do, can you respond in French as well? The translators can't hear you.
5:25 p.m.
Vice-President, Operations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
We have identified what the critical services are, and we are prepared to ensure the delivery of those services.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Sidhu.
Mr. Desilets, you may go ahead for six minutes.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses.
I just want to take a moment to commend the interpreters. We are well aware that their work is far from easy. Kudos.
My first question is for Mr. Seppey.
We have seen numerous outbreaks among temporary foreign workers in the agricultural sector. We hear about them daily in the news. Ontario has been hit especially hard.
Where would you say the deficiencies are?
5:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Thank you for your question, Mr. Desilets. My colleague, Mr. Jurgutis, is actually a better person to answer that.
5:25 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Thank you for your question, Mr. Desilets.
Certainly, it's a very complicated issue. Although the program doesn't really fall under the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, we are working closely with our counterparts in other departments, as well as our provincial and municipal partners, to find solutions.
One thing is for sure. The 14-day quarantine period is why the government announced $50 million in funding to help farmers cover the exceptional costs they have to incur as a result.
Recently, certain farms in various regions have had a bit more trouble. As I was saying, though, we are working closely with other levels of government and our partners to find solutions.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
5:25 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
I would say the responsibility is shared among the different levels of government and farmers, depending on the issue in question. Health matters on regional farms fall, first and foremost, under the jurisdiction of regional and provincial health authorities, so it's important that the federal government work closely with those authorities to find solutions.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you for your answer. I have another question for you, Mr. Jurgutis.
It seems that Mexico asked Canada for assurances this week before it would provide us with seasonal workers. Can you tell us what its conditions are?
5:25 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Again, thank you for your question, Mr. Desilets.
We are currently in talks with the Mexicans to determine what we need to do to meet their conditions. We are also talking to other departments, since ours isn't the only one involved. There is no doubt that the Mexican government wants reassurance that we are able to protect Mexican workers. We are making progress, and the issue is a top priority for the government.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Are Mexican workers still arriving in Quebec and Canada, or has their coming here been put on hold?
5:30 p.m.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Integration Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Off the top of my head, I don't have those specifics, but I do know that the Mexicans want, above all, to avoid farms where workers have tested positive for COVID-19. It's fair to say that the program is currently on hold, but the Mexican government's intentions are to continue allowing people to come to Canada to work on farms.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Jurgutis.
Ms. Barnes, where do you think food inventories will be in the fall? If there are shortages, which sectors will we see them in?