Evidence of meeting #39 for International Trade in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was producers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you, Mr. Laforge. Thank you, Mr. Menzies.
Mr. André, for just one question, please.
Bloc
Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Let me come back to a previous question. I think that the House of Commons will be unanimous in protecting supply management. I think that we unanimously adopted a motion to this effect.
Some sectors of agriculture are going through a difficult period, as you know, with regard to the production of corn, grain, etc. I mentioned this to Mr. McCreery. From the point of view of promoting these products on the international market, are there any major bilateral agreements that we should conclude? If so, which are they? What is our negotiating margin at the WTO, given that we have to protect our supply management system? I think that for us, this is a given. I would like to hear what you have to say about this. This is my question.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Could we have a very brief answer? We have the next committee waiting for us here.
Mr. McCreery.
Past-President, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The very brief answer is a clarification on the November 22 motion. It also said it would defend the interests of exporting industries as well, and--if I understand the question through the interpreter correctly--I know of no export-oriented sector that is trying to have supply management to get into a bilateral agreement. That's the way it was interpreted, and I don't think that's what you meant, so I really can't answer your question. I don't know what it was.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you very much, Monsieur André.
Go ahead, please, very briefly.
Bloc
Guy André Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Let me simplify my question. How do you envisage the opening of markets for grain producers, following the WTO Doha Cycle of negotiations, and given the European and American subsidies and the rest? What opportunities do you currently see for opening markets?
Past-President, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
Do you mean around the world?
Past-President, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
The simple answer is that we need to lower tariffs, but more importantly for the grains and oilseeds sector, we need to go after the subsidies of the European Union.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you very much, Mr. André.
Thank you all for coming today. I appreciate very much your answers, and to committee members, your excellent questions.
I'd like to remind you that on Thursday the meeting is in conjunction with the...we will be attending the FEPA seminar, which is in room 214 of the Wellington Building. There is coffee and a light breakfast at 7:45. The meeting goes from 8 till 10, and then we have our meeting afterwards in the Wellington Building from 10 to 11. So that's just a heads up on that.
Again, thank you all very much for coming. We appreciate it very much.
The meeting is adjourned.