Agriculture committee  Yes, that is true.

Agriculture committee  Clearly, research has to be done with regard to all those approvals, coated seeds and genetically-modified products. We also need to do research in beekeeping in order to ensure that we have bees that are much more resistant to varroa and all those other parasites.

Agriculture committee  At this time, we don't know exactly what the short-term effects will be. However, we will no doubt know something in the intermediate and long term. Before we determine whether the honey or the nectar collected from genetically-modified plants is bad for our health, we would have

Agriculture committee  Yes, a great deal of research is being conducted. There are many pesticides, such as Gaucho and Admire, which are banned in Europe in order to protect bees. In Europe, it's a matter of ensuring the survival of bee colonies.

Agriculture committee  First of all, I apologize about the origin. Saskatchewan is also a good honey-producing province. We could even work together. Beekeepers in Saskatchewan are already working with us, in Quebec, as well as a long-time family of beekeepers from Zenon Park.

Agriculture committee  We are aware of the minor changes to come as regards labelling, and we are very happy with them. As I said in my presentation, I hope that we will continue in the same direction that we will be able to provide Canadian and Quebec consumers with information showing where the honey

Agriculture committee  Unfortunately, we have received virtually no assistance from the federal government. The provincial government has provided some money. It has been difficult, unfortunately. We would have appreciated receiving more. The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program was repla

Agriculture committee  The program does not talk about beekeepers, but agriculture in general. I would like this program to do more for beekeepers. As I said earlier, beekeeping is the foundation of agriculture. Bees are the link between plants and animals. Bees are what enables the cycle to go on. I w

Agriculture committee  Yes, monoculture is currently causing problems for bees. Since only one type of pollen is being brought back to the hive, there is a pollen shortage. If I were to draw a parallel with humans, it's as if you were to eat cereal every day. At some point, you would run out of variou

Agriculture committee  Things are, indeed, being done: CAPA meets once a year, and various Canadian researchers discuss and conduct research together. However, it is quite difficult to follow all of that, because in Quebec, we have the Fédération des apiculteurs, whereas in Ontario, it is the OBA. The

Agriculture committee  Registering new products does, indeed, require a considerable amount of time. It can take up to two years and it is extremely costly. I thank you for choosing Canadian honey in Alberta—I believe that is what you said. There is excellent honey, quality honey. I believe that in Alb

Agriculture committee  There is no problem, but I would say that in Quebec we produce between 20 and 25% of the honey we consume, whereas Alberta is a province that exports it; it is the largest honey-producing province. Quebec should work with Alberta to bring Canadian honey into Quebec. We have nothi

Agriculture committee  The situation improved slightly in Quebec in 2007-2008, but in Alberta, losses this year were approximately 60%.

Agriculture committee  Indeed. However, it is the first year that Alberta has experienced such significant losses.

Agriculture committee  As I explained a little earlier, the problem that we are facing in Quebec and Canada in general is linked to a host of minor factors. There are parasites, but when the varroa parasite enters the colony, it weakens it. Bees also introduce viruses and other diseases that already ex