Pierre Lemieux

[Canadian Food Inspection Agency, June 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, given that the member was talking about resources, I would remind the House that under this government we have increased front-line inspectors for CFIA by 750 net new inspectors.

In our previous budgets, we have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for CFIA and for food safety. The member and his party have voted against each and every opportunity and initiative that we have put forward to increase resources and finances for CFIA.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that the situation up to the tabling of the bill was that there was a lot of conflict between those sectors that needed to use the rail service and those providing the rail service. This legislation is meant to provide tools to both the rail service and to the service users in order to rectify any problems they may have. Particularly it was those who use the rail service to ship their products who felt they were disadvantaged, in that they did not have options at their disposal to fix problems that occurred when they tried to ship their products.

This legislation has come about after considerable consultation with both the rail service providers and those who use the rail service, in order to provide each side with tools to build bridges across their differences.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as far as I know, the grain shipments through the port of Churchill have not changed dramatically. They have not decreased dramatically either since the mandatory Wheat Board was brought to an end.

I will say, too, that these changes to the rail transportation system do not just involve agricultural products. For example, I have a quote here from the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada:

So this legislation is critical--not only for our industry’s competitiveness, but for Canada’s overall productivity and prosperity.

I also have a quote from the Forest Products Association of Canada that supports this legislation.

Although my speech focused on agriculture and grain products in particular, it is clear that this legislation that we are putting forward today addresses concerns in many of the sectors across Canada that rely on rail service for the success of their businesses.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's agriculture and food industry creates jobs and promotes economic growth.

That is why our government remains committed to working hard to help this vibrant industry continue to grow. We are investing in innovation to allow our farmers to remain competitive, and we are opening up trade in order to help farmers get the best price for their wheat and barley crops.

Our government wants to reduce red tape so that farmers can spend their time working the fields, not filling out forms. It wants to help farmers increase international sales through the most aggressive trade program in our country's history.

Of course, if farmers are going to serve these overseas markets, they need efficient and effective transport systems to get their product to port, and that is what Bill C-52 is all about.

Last year, Canada's grain producers exported some $17 billion in world-class grain products, representing up to 85% of their total sales on the farm. These dollars not only drive growth on our farms; they also drive growth for our economy and jobs for Canadians, from combine operators to truckers to port terminals.

Our farmers and our economy depend on efficient, effective and reliable rail service to move these crops off the farm to our valued customers in Canada and around the world. In fact, last year Canadian farmers paid over $1 billion to move regulated grain by rail. On the prairies, grain travels an average of 1,400 kilometres to reach a port destination.

Thanks to the fair rail freight service act, the government is contributing to strengthening this vital link between the farm and the consumer's table. The fair rail freight service act also supports our government's program to promote economic growth and long-term prosperity across our great country.

Our government is committed to ensuring that all shippers, including grain shippers, can negotiate agreements that bring greater clarity and predictability on service. With this proposed legislation, we deliver on that commitment.

This bill is good news for Canadian farmers, and I am pleased to report that it has been welcomed by the farm leadership across all of the major exporting sectors in agriculture.

For instance, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture said:

Passage of Bill C-52 will provide a legislative tool needed to make railways more accountable to its customers. It is a good first step in improving rail service and costs to industry.

The Grain Growers of Canada said:

We fully support the federal government's aggressive trade agenda and global commerce strategy. Timely and efficient rail service is a critical part of Canadian farmers' market access so this will help us be more globally competitive.

Also, the general manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association said:

The railway is a critical link between our farms and our export customers. To fully capitalize on the new trade opportunities being pursued by Canada, shippers need this legislation to ensure Canadian agri-food products reach our customers in a reliable and timely manner.

Clearly, farmers believe this bill would help them grow profitable businesses by building a strong and effective supply chain. Bill C-52 would do that by giving shippers, including farmers, the right to a service agreement with railways.

The core of the bill is a new process to establish those agreements when commercial negotiations are not successful.

This provision will be a powerful tool for our agricultural sector, since it will strongly encourage shippers and rail companies alike to negotiate a commercial agreement. The fair rail freight service act will help farmers grow their business.

The bill would bring clarity and predictability to the commercial relationship between the shippers and the railways, and it recognizes the need for railways to manage an efficient rail shipping network for the benefit of grain shippers and the entire supply chain.

To put Bill C-52 in perspective, it is part of our government's broader commitment to work with industry to build a modern and dynamic grain industry in Canada.

Of course, marketing freedom for wheat and barley farmers is a key part of that strategy. The sky did not fall under marketing freedom, as some doomsayers had predicted. Quite the opposite in fact, farmers new-found freedom is breathing new life into the grain industry across the prairies.

Farmers are saying that wheat is a cash crop now, and that they can sell their wheat and barley when and where they want, locally or south of the border, at harvest time or later, whenever the market is right for them.

They can also maximize the profit they make from their crops by shipping their wheat as soon as it is harvested and freeing up storage space for other crops such as canola or peas.

The modernization of the Canada Grains Act is part of our effort to provide Canadian farmers with a 21st century grain industry.

These changes, which received royal assent in December, will reduce farmers' regulatory burden and cost, improve the Canadian Grain Commission's producer payment protection program, and eliminate mandatory services that are no longer required, saving producers up to $21 million in extra costs.

To ensure that we stay the course in this exciting new direction for our grain industry, the Minister of Agriculture has renewed the mandate of the crop logistics working group. This forum of experts from across the industry will work to improve the performance of the supply chain for all crops through stakeholder collaboration with a focus on innovation, capacity and measures of performance.

As well, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continues to work with Transport Canada on an in-depth analysis of the grain transportation supply chain to make a strong system even stronger. Farmers, grain marketers and the railways are partners in a world-class industry that brings us the food on our tables.

Canadian railway companies and farmers have helped build our great nation. They will also help prepare our country for a bright future by delivering high quality grain to the world's steadily growing population.

This bill before us takes an important step towards a stronger and more efficient rail network to help farmers build their businesses and keep our economy on track. I am pleased that all members in this House are supporting this bill, because it is the right thing to do and it is good for our Canadian farmers.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 30th, 2013]

Wake up over there. Let the debate continue, for Heaven's sake.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague's very passionate speech, but there were some contradictions.

First, the member made it sound like this government was pitted against industry. To that, I will read two quotes.

First, the Grain Growers of Canada, one of the groups she said we did not consult with, said, “We especially thank [the] Agriculture Minister, [the] Transportation Minister and the federal government for listening to farmers and moving this legislation ahead”.

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, a second industry player, said, “this legislation is critical”.

The other contradiction is that, given all the doom and gloom the member has spoken about, how is she going to bring herself to vote for the legislation?

I believe the NDP is going to vote in favour of the legislation.

[Convex Affirmative Enterprises, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, today I am honoured to congratulate Groupe Convex, an organization in my riding that provides services to persons with disabilities.

Caroline Arcand and her Groupe Convex team have spared no effort to generate meaningful jobs for people who face employment challenges. Groupe Convex has established nine successful businesses that offer valuable opportunities to enrich employees, as well as our community. Our government supports these key initiatives.

I have toured these businesses and spoke with their employees. They should be proud of the excellent work they do: managing a recycling centre, working in a woodshop, running a small restaurant-café and catering service, and so on. They all show they have outstanding skills and talent.

I am impressed with Groupe Convex and what it does to create jobs, but I am particularly proud of its employees and the excellent work they do. Well done to each of them.

[Questions on the Order Paper, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the ministers of agriculture and international trade have been clear that our government is extremely disappointment with the regulatory changes put forward by the U.S. with respect to the country of origin labelling. These changes will not bring the U.S. into compliance with its WTO obligations.

We will consider all options at our disposal, including, if necessary, the use of retaliatory measures. Our government will continue to aggressively defend the interests of our Canadian livestock producers and we will not stop until we succeed.

[Food Safety, May 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for his hard work regarding food safety.

I am pleased to announce that last week the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food unveiled the safe food for Canadians action plan. This plan puts into place mandatory requirements that will strengthen E. coli testing in federally registered beef plants, including increased testing and mandatory labelling for tenderized beef.

These initiatives have been very well received by industry and in fact the Canadian Cattlemen's Association said that, “the new rules and requirements for beef outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan will further strengthen Canada’s food safety system.”