Neil Ellis

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, December 1st, 2020]

Madam Speaker, the government strongly supports supply management and is delivering on its commitment to compensate our supply-managed sectors for the impact of recent trade agreements.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food recently announced a substantial package that delivers on the Government of Canada's commitment to provide full and fair compensation for market access concessions made under the Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. A total of $2 billion in federal support will be made available to every dairy producer for the impacts of CETA and CPTPP, including $1.75 billion to be paid in the form of direct payments. Of this amount, $345 million was made available to eligible dairy producers in the 2019-20 fiscal year. All eligible dairy producers who applied have received their payment.

The government has also set a schedule to deliver the remaining $1.4 billion through direct payments to farmers over a timeline of only three years. Dairy farmers will receive, on the basis of their milk quota, cash payments of $468 million in 2020-21, $469 million in 2021-22 and $468 million in 2022-23. These payments will continue to be delivered through the Canadian Dairy Commission. These amounts build on the $250 million CETA on-farm investment program, which has already approved 3,327 applications. Dairy producers now have greater certainty as to the level and timing of support as they adapt to the new market environment.

The government is also delivering on its commitment to provide full and fair compensation to poultry and egg producers for the impacts of the CPTPP. Up to $691 million for 10-year programs will be made available for supply-managed chicken, egg, broiler hatching egg and turkey farmers. These programs directly respond to what was requested by the poultry and egg working group following the ratification of CPTPP and will provide producers with targeted support to make on-farm investments, improve productivity and carry out market development activities. Program details will be designed in consultation with sector representatives and launched as soon as possible. This compensation package will help dairy, poultry and egg farmers make strategic investments on their farms and improve their operations to be even more competitive.

Our government remains committed to engaging the sectors on full and fair compensation for CUSMA. We also remain committed to supporting our processors of supply-managed products for their market impacts.

The government pledged to compensate supply-managed farmers and that is exactly what we are doing.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 27th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, since the start, we have been working with provincial and territorial counterparts to get through this crisis. We are listening to Canadians and have taken many measures to support them.

We launched the emergency processing fund of $77.5 million to help producers. We added an additional $200 million in borrowing capacity for the Canadian Dairy Commission. We made a $35-million investment to boost production for temporary foreign workers and address COVID outbreaks on farms, and a $50-million investment to help with mandatory isolation periods of temporary foreign workers.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 19th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing to see grocery stores imposing these costly fees that fall on Canadian producers, who are working hard to feed Canadians. We are open to discussing the issue at the next meeting of the ministers of agriculture, which will take place shortly. However, contracts between suppliers and buyers are in the provincial and territorial jurisdictions. We encourage our provincial and territorial counterparts to examine this matter.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, again, our government recognizes the crucial role supply management plays in keeping our rural communities vibrant, and we will always be there to defend it. That is why, during the new NAFTA negotiations, we protected supply management from American efforts to dismantle it.

Our commitment to make available $1.75 billion over eight years in full, fair compensation is firm. We came through on our commitment for CETA and CPTPP and we will do the same thing now that the new NAFTA agreement has been ratified.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, in August 2019, we announced a compensation package of $1.75 billion over eight years for all dairy producers, with amounts distributed according to their respective quotas. Less than one year ago, we sent the first cheque to all dairy farmers who asked for it.

We have kept our promises and that is exactly what we will continue to do. It was very important to ratify this agreement for the agriculture sector, which will help it grow, with the continued access to our largest trading partner.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the crucial role supply management plays in keeping our rural communities vibrant. We will always be there to defend it.

That is why, during the new NAFTA negotiations, we protected our supply management from an American effort to dismantle it. Our commitment to make available $1.75 billion over eight years for full and fair compensation is firm. We kept to our commitment for CETA and CPTPP and we will do the same thing now that the new NAFTA has been ratified.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, on August 19, we announced a compensation package of $1.75 billion over eight years for all dairy producers, with amounts distributed according to their respective quotas. Less than one year ago we sent a first cheque to all dairy farmers who asked for it. We have kept our promises and that is exactly what we will continue to do.

It was very important to ratify this agreement for the agriculture sector, which will help it grow, with continued access to our largest trading partner.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the crucial role supply management plays in keeping our rural communities vibrant and we will always be there to defend it. That is why, during the new NAFTA negotiations, we protected supply management from American efforts to dismantle it.

Our commitment to make available $1.75 billion over eight years for full and fair compensation is firm. We came through with our commitment to CETA and CPTPP and we will always do the same thing now that the new NAFTA has been ratified.

[Remembrance Day, November 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give thanks to our veterans and those currently serving. In my riding, Quinte West is home to CFB Trenton, the largest air force base in Canada. We also have one of the largest veteran populations across the country. My riding is also home to the storied Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, famed for winning more battle honours than any other Canadian regiment in World War II.

As the son of a veteran of the Second World War, and having hired a veteran to help the men and women who have served, I recognize the importance of supporting our veterans. This year our Remembrance Day ceremonies across the Bay of Quinte and Canada will be a little different. Because of the changes brought on by the pandemic, communities are having to adapt their traditional ceremonies, for example, by going virtual. However, COVID-19 does not stop us from recognizing the sacrifices our veterans have made.

This November 11, we should not forget to stop and take a moment to give thanks for all they have given. Lest we forget.

[Bay of Quinte, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank our front-line and essential services, the residents of the Bay of Quinte who have kept us safe and well during this pandemic. Our community has come together to find accommodations for workers and to donate PPE, food and personal care products to staff and residents of long-term care facilities and retirement homes affected by COVID-19.

In Trenton, a group of sewers got together. They made close to 25,000 masks and raised nearly $25,000 to purchase medical grade PPE for Trenton Memorial Hospital. To date, over 5,000 surgical masks have been donated to Trenton Memorial Hospital, VON and Hastings Manor. Another $5,000 has also been collected from the sale of poppy masks to support the work of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 110 in Trenton.

Ongoing generosity like this is helping to boost the morale in our community, especially among our front-line workers, where it is needed the most.