AGRI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 40

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Larry Miller, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, France Bonsant, Hon. Wayne Easter, Hon. Mark Eyking, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, Larry Miller, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley and Brian Storseth.

Acting Members present: Sukh Dhaliwal for Hon. Wayne Easter and Glen Douglas Pearson for Francis Valeriote.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean-Denis Fréchette, Chief Analyst ; Frédéric Forge, Analyst ; Mathieu Frigon, Analyst.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

André Bellavance moved, — That the Committee invite Olivier de Schutter, United Nation Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, to discuss his report on food security and sovereignty with Committee members in a videoconference during a Committee meeting, depending on his availability.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Alex Atamanenko moved, — That the Committee recommend the government include business risk management as an eligible component of the Agriculture Flexibility (Agri-Flex) program and that this be reported to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Pierre Lemieux moved, — That the Committee, after hearing witness testimony concerning Specified Risk Material, would like to encourage the government to work with industry to find solutions to existing irritants.

Debate arose thereon.

Wayne Easter moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “irritants” the following: “, and that the Committee request that the government of Canada adopt the proposal concerning Specific Risk Materials, as outlined by industry representatives in their letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of October 27, 2009”.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it introduced a new proposition which should be the subject of a substantive motion with notice.

André Bellavance moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “would like to encourage” with the words “calls on” and by adding after the word “irritants“ the following: “, including the creation of an industry-oriented assistance program to help farmers cover the $31.70 cost per head, which represents the competitiveness gap between Canada and the US; and that this be reported to the House of Commons“.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it introduced a new proposition which should be the subject of a substantive motion with notice.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 2.

At 5:10 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Isabelle Duford
Clerk of the Committee

2010/01/12 1:23 p.m.