Evidence of meeting #4 for Special Committee on Cooperatives in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cooperatives.
A video is available from Parliament.
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Co-operative Council
You're asking us to comment on an issue that's been around since Confederation started.
There is no equality between the provinces, and it's not for us to tell this committee or the federal government where you should be separating the two, or what one government should do more than the other. That's not for us. We work with both governments as best we can. It's been very successful in some areas over the years, less in others, but it's certainly not our place to comment on that.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
So you don't want to comment on how you would see the provincial government perhaps talking to co-ops within the province?
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Co-operative Council
There are definite divisions between the responsibilities of the provincial and federal governments. We address the provincial ones with our provincial government as best we can.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Canadians are watching, and they don't necessarily understand the difference between federal, provincial, and municipal responsibilities when it comes to co-ops.
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Co-operative Council
You have to also understand the differences in the provinces. To try to compare Prince Edward Island and the resources the government of the day has to work with there with the province of Ontario, say, or British Columbia—
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
No, I'm not asking you to comment on Ontario. I was asking only in your area of competence—
Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Co-operative Council
It's more difficult for a rural economy, which Prince Edward Island has, to address some of the financial issues than it might be in other jurisdictions in the country. There are only 140,000 people on the island. There are more than that in some of the smaller cities in Ontario. So you have to appreciate they have less to work with.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
In the few moments I have left, I'll go to Dianne.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Nova Scotia Co-operative Council
I think if you are really interested in the role the provinces could be playing to support the cooperative sector, you should look at Nova Scotia as a model. I think we have a really interesting relationship with the province. We don't have any particular special programs or special incentives, but it is a relationship that is fair, inclusive, equal. It's a relationship that's based on delivering outcomes and results, and I think we've done that. So I think it is a model worth looking at and worth emulating. I think if you talk to our provincial associations across the country, they would say they're quite envious of the relationship the cooperative sector has in Nova Scotia with the provincial government.
If I may make what may sound like a political statement, it would seem to me that when the federal government implements programs and agencies and incentives in the provinces, it should be in partnership and consultation with the province, and not as stand-alone kinds of competitive programs and entities, because that makes it very difficult to do business, and we're interested in doing business and delivering results.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
In my work certainly within agriculture, there is a tremendous amount of consultation that does go on through the regional offices, through MPs, of course, in particular ridings—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blake Richards
Time has expired, but if you have a question I'll let you pose it quickly.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
No, it was really just a comment. I'm not saying that there is consultation in all matters at all times, but I'm just saying I think there is a good flow of information back and forth.
I'll end it on that. Thank you, Chair.
NDP
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Yes, thank you.
I just want to commend the clerk. I notice that he's now sent out day four, and I believe day five, when it comes to the next pieces of committee business and who the witnesses are. But I noticed there's not the last day, so I was wondering if the chair could confirm for us whether Minister Ritz will indeed be coming before the committee before the week is out. I don't see him tomorrow, and I don't see him on Thursday. Do you know if the minister will be coming on Friday?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blake Richards
We had the officials here on the first day, and if you'd like to put in suggestions in terms of future witnesses, that would certainly be appropriate for committee business.
I note that it is three o'clock, so now the meeting is suspended.
NDP
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Is that a no? That was actually a question. Was that a no?
[Proceedings continue in camera]