Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First, I want to thank the members of the committee very much for being here. Indeed, the canola issue does not affect only the west, it affects all of Canada as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for mentioning that fact.
I also want to thank the members of the committee for having given me some time today as opposition critic for agriculture and agri-food.
This matter is extremely important. As my colleague Mr. Maguire mentioned a few minutes ago, the Barton Report indicates that Canadian exports are expected to increase to $85 billion by 2025. It is clear that stakeholders in the agricultural sector and international trade will have to work hand in hand in the future.
Unfortunately, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food who has been in the position for three years has not taken part in the discussions on international trade. I wanted to mention that, because it is important for agricultural representatives, farmers and Canadian producers to know that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is an active participant in important activities like international negotiations. When the previous government was in power, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food took part in these international negotiations. Unfortunately, since 2015, no place is being set for this minister at the negotiation tables.
I wanted to mention that fact to the committee because it is important. I strongly encourage you to ask the government to see to it that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food take an active part in the various international negotiations, especially when agriculture is being discussed.
As you mentioned, Mr. Chair, canola is an important part of Canada's agricultural exports. Forty per cent of Canada's canola exports are sent to China. In 2017, this amounted to about $3.6 billion. This is a major crisis, and that is why the members on this side of the table requested emergency meetings. We also asked the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food to hold a meeting on this subject, but unfortunately, for all kinds of reasons, our NDP colleague could not approve such an emergency meeting.
I commend the decision of the Standing Committee on International Trade to hold this meeting, because it is very important to show Canadian canola producers as well as all other Canadian agricultural producers that their government, their Parliament and their MPs are concerned and are focusing on what is happening to relations between Canada and China.
What is at stake is maintaining the trust of buyers and of producers who export their products, as well as the agreements that were established. Unfortunately, doors are closing. Companies have stopped buying and producers are stuck with their products. We absolutely have to head off this situation, all the more so since there are already issues with grain transport to the west despite the adoption of Bill C-49. We thought that this project would miraculously solve everything and allow the export of Canadian products. We thought it was a panacea and that everything would be settled as if by magic. This year we can already see that that is not the case. We are going to have to be even more vigilant in the future.
The trust of producers and buyers is at stake. Buyers have to know that Canadian producers can provide the merchandise. Without going into all of the details of the context and of China's claims, it's important to know the political response of the Canadian government to this situation.
That is why I unreservedly support the motion that this committee to simultaneously invite the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Minister of International Trade Diversification , and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is a political crisis, and we have to obtain answers from the people who are politically responsible for the current situation.
More than half of the agri-food products grown in Canada are exported, which makes agriculture highly dependent on exports and international markets. We can't simply observe this crisis and expect it to magically resolve itself.
I strongly urge the members of the committee to hold this meeting with the three ministers as soon as possible. This crisis urgently needs to be resolved. We cannot wait for other productions to be threatened or for the advent of new obstacles to the Chinese market. We must react as quickly as possible.
I know that the budget will be tabled this week, but I think that nothing prevents the members of the committee from showing good faith. We can hold a meeting with the ministers as early as this week, at any time of the day or night. We are here today on a Sunday, which proves that we are willing to travel at any time. We are ready to receive the ministers and you will have the full support of the opposition if you decide to hold this meeting this week at any time of the day. We are available.
The members of the committee are ready to hold this meeting to shed light on this topic and obtain answers to the questions of Canadian canola producers with regard to the current crisis.