Agriculture committee  Yes, on the same point of order, Chair, I'm not tabling the motion, but I believe Mr. Richards is making a comment. He's not debating the motion; he's making a comment, and you recognized him to make a comment. He hasn't even gotten into the comment he's making. He should be able to proceed.

Agriculture committee  I'd like to table this motion, Chair: that the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, after hearing witness testimony concerning specified risk material, would like to encourage the government to work with industry to find solutions to existing irritants. Chair, we had witnesses come in front of us explaining the challenges that exist in the industry and that the definition of specified risk material actually has an impact on their sector, and I feel that with this motion we are encouraging the government to work with the industry to find solutions that will help them with SRMs.

Agriculture committee  Do you suggest that we do motions and get them done?

Agriculture committee  Thanks, Mr. Chair. On the last point he makes...I'm saying that he's agreeing with us in that it's going to give them more usable cash. And then during a debate he said, “This is the best disguised Ponzi scheme in the country.” I'm saying that he's not consistent in his approach.

Agriculture committee  Are we moving to the report or are we moving to motions? What are we doing?

Agriculture committee  Thanks, Chair. I'm not going to table that motion right now. I'm just going to let it rest.

Agriculture committee  Thanks, Chair. I want to make a couple of comments on some of the comments that have been going around at this meeting. The first is regarding the per head payment. Mr. Easter now says that it's a terrible thing. However, I have a quote here. He was on the radio in June 2009. The member for Malpeque acknowledged that the risk of trade retaliation “can be seen as a trade violation, and that's true”.

Agriculture committee  I know he's being defensive because I've got him. I've pinned him down now and he has to react with something. Mr. Chair, the hog industry knows there are too many hogs in Canada; it's just Mr. Easter who doesn't know it. The problem is that if the government pushes out money to sustain the hog market at the size it is at right now, it's not actually helping the hog industry in the long run.

Agriculture committee  Thanks, Chair. I just want to respond to some of the things that have been mentioned. Mr. Atamanenko was talking about needing money for disasters and unforeseen circumstances, but that is what AgriRecovery is for. When a disaster occurs, there is a close cooperation that takes place between the federal government and the province affected to determine if AgriRecovery replies, and then there is actually a payout if there is agreement that it was a disaster in a specific region or in a specific industry.

Agriculture committee  Alex says no. Alex says you don't need more federal funding.

Agriculture committee  We never did that.

Agriculture committee  Oh, you did. And the farmers were delighted with...[Inaudible--Editor]

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Chair. I must admit, I am surprised that my colleagues on the other side are supporting the motion, because it's so vague. I was asking Mr. Atamanenko exactly what he is talking about. Be more specific. It's more, well, the department will sort that out later. I think I gave a very real example.

Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could Mr. Easter table the names of these people he's spoken to, the people who have provided him with this invaluable advice?

Agriculture committee  Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.