House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 51% of the vote.
International Trade September 26th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, our government supports supply management, and my hon. colleague is well aware of that. We supported Bill C-282 because, of course, we have supported and always will support supply management, unlike the Conservatives, who fell shamefully behind when important funding for supply management came to the House and voted against it.
My hon. colleague is fully aware that we have supported and will continue to support supply management.
Hon. Chuck Strahl September 17th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House today to pay tribute to my old colleague the hon. Chuck Strahl. I am deeply saddened by his passing.
Although I sat across the aisle from him for 18 years, I always had a deep respect and admiration for him. That is really the beauty of this place. There is a time for lively debate and different opinions, but we are all here to represent our constituents back home, and Chuck understood that as well as anyone else.
In addition to serving as a member of Parliament from 1993 to 2011, he also served as minister of agriculture, minister of Indian and northern development and minister of transport. These jobs can often be challenging, but he stepped up in service to his country, and I thank him so much for that. Being Minister of Agriculture myself, I know full well what the job entails. Serving our farmers, producers and ranchers has been one of the greatest honours of my life, and I am sure Chuck felt the same way.
I probably should not say this, but I think Chuck would understand and maybe chuckle a bit. Back in 2010, Chuck was serving as minister of transport, and as other previous and probably current ministers of transport know, I was a bit of a thorn in his side. I was grilling him one day in the House in question period about the Wood Islands-Caribou ferry service, which is vitally important to my riding. Eventually he said, “I know the member has asked this question every year for about 10 or 12 years now”, which was certainly true. Even though Chuck was from far on the other side of the country, and the ferry on the eastern end of Prince Edward Island was probably not one of his top priorities, he always showed a willingness to work with me on that issue and many other issues. He showed me and my constituents a great deal of respect, and I am deeply grateful for that.
We were from different parties, but Chuck always had time for my concerns, and I truly believe that is how ministers and members of Parliament should act. We all want what is best for our constituents and Canadians. We may disagree on how we deliver that, but the country is best served when we all communicate and work together on things.
I cannot help but look across the aisle and see Chuck's son, the member for Chilliwack—Hope. I have been in this place for quite a while, and it is quite something to be able to say that I have served with him and with Chuck. I am sure that Chuck was so deeply proud of his son, my hon. colleague, for being his successor. What a great honour the member has brought to his father.
I might just break the rules here a little bit, but to the member for Chilliwack—Hope, Mark, I want to offer my sincerest condolences. It is very difficult.
Chuck's wife, Deb; his other children, Karina, Loni and Kyla; and the rest of his family and friends are all in our thoughts. Losing a loved one is never easy, but I hope that Mark's faith, which I am sure was inherited from his father, brings him comfort in the days ahead.
I truly appreciate the opportunity to rise in the House to honour my old friend Chuck Strahl. His tremendous service to his constituents, province and country will never be forgotten.
Questions on the Order Paper June 19th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a), rhe 193 new technologies adopted were to replace or upgrade the existing technology on farm or in the food-processing facility with technology that showed promise to generate measurable emission reductions categories under the program’s three priority areas.
The area of green energy and energy efficiency covers improvements that enable better management of energy-intensive agricultural processes, such as more energy-efficient technology for grain drying and grain handling; more energy-efficient facility heating systems; replacing fossil fuels or fossil fuel-derived energy with renewable energy such as solar electricity or biomass fuel.
The area of precision agriculture covers technology that contributes to more precise, and therefore reduced, input use, such as variable rate application technologies and GPS, auto-steering, guidance systems that optimize fertilizer and seed placement, reducing inputs and the number of passes in the field; subsurface or injection technologies that reduce fertilizer and water inputs and soil disturbance; - precision feed technologies that optimize livestock digestion and reduce methane production; precision harvesting equipment that reduces fossil fuel inputs.
The area of bioeconomy solutions covers using agricultural waste and by-products to generate energy or create bioproducts, such as anaerobic digesters and manure or compost management technologies.
The following is a breakdown of the 193 adopted clean technologies that were included in the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development’s report: 39% in grain drying and handling; 21% in precision agriculture; 18% in solar adoption; 5% in biomass heating; and 17% in “other”, which includes a combination of the various technologies outlined above.
In response to part (b), at an aggregate level, the performance reports provided information confirming that the clean technologies were being adopted as planned and are achieving the projects’ anticipated greenhouse gases emissions reduction results. In addition, the reports provide information on efficiencies gained and results achieved at a granular level. They also detail a number of challenges and unforeseen circumstances that affected the adoption and use of these technologies. For example, supply chain issues, labour shortages, and other COVID-related challenges contributed to delays in adoption for some producers. Furthermore, unforeseen circumstances such as unseasonably wet or dry conditions were also noted in a number of performance reports. This led to some results falling short of targets, and some exceeding them.
In response to part (c), please see “Database: Agricultural Clean Technology Program projects” at Canada.ca for a cumulative listing of all projects approved and announced as of March 7, 2024, under the agricultural clean technology program, adoption stream and research and innovation stream.
Note that the number of approved projects was 352 as of January 2024, when this program information was provided for the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development’s report.
Questions on the Order Paper June 19th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, AAFC is currently in the process of drafting the sustainable agriculture strategy, SAS. Climate change mitigation is one of the five priority areas covered by the SAS. The other four include adaptation, biodiversity, water, and soil health. The SAS will set a shared direction for collective action to improve environmental performance in the sector over the long term in order to advance the sustainability, competitiveness, and vitality of the agriculture sector.
Since January 2024, AAFC has been meeting monthly with the SAS advisory committee to receive input and advice on various components of the strategy, and AAFC has been developing components of a draft strategy document. Ongoing engagement has continued with representatives from across the agriculture sector, including producers, commodity organizations, non-governmental organizations, provincial and territorial partners, indigenous peoples, and others.
The strategy will include broad goals and measurable outcomes, with clear indicators to measure progress across the five priority areas. The SAS is expected to be released in 2024.
Questions on the Order Paper June 19th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, AAFC officials are actively engaging with national and regional commodity associations, industry organizations, and academia on the development of a strategic approach for reaching the target through the fertilizer emissions reduction working group under the sustainable agriculture strategy advisory committee. The working group is focused on identifying opportunities to increase the voluntary adoption of beneficial management practices, address data and measurement issues, recognize innovative solutions, and expand outreach and extension activities.
The ongoing development and implementation of the sustainable agriculture strategy also presents additional opportunities for developing and strengthening partnerships and collaboration with the sector to address key agri-environmental issues, including fertilizer emissions.
Questions on the Order Paper June 19th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, as part of its domestic and international greenhouse gas reporting requirements, Canada must prepare and publish emissions projections on an annual basis. AAFC works with Environment and Climate Change Canada to develop the emissions projections for the agriculture sector, which includes the projected impact of any new, current, or planned programming. Through the agricultural climate solutions – on-farm climate action fund, the sustainable Canadian agricultural partnership, and the $34.1 million proposed in budget 2023 to support the adoption of nitrogen management practices, AAFC has most recently estimated a 1.44 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, Mt CO2e, reduction in fertilizer emissions per year by 2030.
Although the 1.44 Mt CO2e estimate does not currently account for the projected impact of the agricultural climate solutions – living labs and agricultural clean technology program, both programs support the research, development, and adoption of practices and technologies that can reduce fertilizer emissions. In addition, some federally funded programs under the sustainable Canadian agricultural partnership, such as AgriScience and AgriInnovate, can support fertilizer-related projects along the innovation continuum. Because Canada’s emissions projections are updated annually, the estimated reduction in fertilizer emissions from all of AAFC’s current programming may be included as more research and data become available.
The 1.44 Mt CO2e estimate also does not account for industry-led or provincially led initiatives that may directly or indirectly reduce fertilizer emissions, including Fertilizer Canada’s 4R designation and certification, Farm Credit Canada’s 4R sustainability incentive program, and the Government of Ontario’s fertilizer accelerating solutions & technology challenge.
Questions on the Order Paper June 19th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Canadian Dairy Commission, in response to part (a), to date, 18 applications have been received.
In response to part (b), all applications are under review/pending completion of the assessment process.
In response to part (c), the assessment process is ongoing and no funds have been approved.
In response to part (d), the assessment process is ongoing and no funds have been approved.
Agriculture and Agri-Food June 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's question and concern. I am fully aware that the farmers need the funding as quickly as possible. There is a procedure to follow. I think my hon. colleague is well aware that we are following that procedure with the Quebec government, and as soon as I possibly can, and it is approved, I will make sure the money is in the hands of the farmers, which is much needed, as quickly as possible.
Agriculture and Agri-Food June 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. colleague's concern. He knows that I am concerned too. I did meet them, and I appreciate the work that he has done with the farmers but he is well aware that AgriRecovery is a joint effort between the Government of Canada and the provincial governments across the country.
I can share with the House that we have been working closely with the Government of Quebec and that things are progressing well. I know the farmers need the money, and we will work as fast as we can, making sure that we follow proper procedures to get the money in the hands of the farmers as quickly as we can.
Taxation June 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that when my hon. colleague and his government were in power, they slashed half a billion dollars at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. They slashed $200 million out of the business risk management program. The question I have is, how much more would you slash if you ever got the chance to slash?
I can assure Canadians that we have reinstated the funding to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and we have reinstated the funding to the business risk management program. We have supported and will continue to support farmers in this country.