AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 8:49 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Vice-Chair, the Hon. Mark Eyking, presiding.

The Chair presented the Third Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

1. On November 16th, that the Committee hold a meeting on program review with officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and that the Committee consider the Third Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure in public during the last fifteen minutes of the meeting;

2. On November 18th, that the Committee hear from the Minister and the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency;

3. On November 23rd, that the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the review of various agricultural programs, including risk management and others;

4. On November 25th, that the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the effectiveness of current emergency relief programs;

5. On November 30th, that the Committee invite officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to appear concerning various issues, including the import of products and the recent internal audit report;

6. On December 2nd, that the Committee hold a meeting on Canada-European Union trade arrangements, and invite both negotiators and witnesses to appear;

7. On December 7th, that the Committee hold a meeting on the issue of the Railway Costing Review;

8. On December 9th, December 14th, and December 16th, that the Committee commence its study of the biotechnology industry;

9. That the Committee members understand that other motions may be presented at any of the above meetings, where such time permits.

It was agreed, — That the Report be amended by replacing points one through eight with the following:

1. That on November 18th, the Committee hear from the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as officials from their departments;

2. That on November 23rd, the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the review of various agricultural programs, including risk management and others;

3. That on November 25th, the Committee hold a meeting on program review with officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;

4. That on November 30th, the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the effectiveness of current emergency relief programs;

5. That on December 2nd, the Committee invite officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to appear concerning various issues, including the import of products and the recent internal audit report;

6. That on December 7nd, the Committee hold a meeting on Canada-European Union trade arrangements, and invite both negotiators and witnesses to appear;

7. That on December 9th, the Committee hold a meeting on the issue of the Railway Costing Review;

8. That on December 14th and December 16th, the Committee commence its study of the biotechnology industry.

It was agreed, — That the Third Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

The Report, as amended, read as follows:

1. That on November 18th, the Committee hear from the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as officials from their departments;

2. That on November 23rd, the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the review of various agricultural programs, including risk management and others;

3. That on November 25th, the Committee hold a meeting on program review with officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;

4. That on November 30th, the Committee hear from individual agricultural producers concerning the effectiveness of current emergency relief programs;

5. That on December 2nd, the Committee invite officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to appear concerning various issues, including the import of products and the recent internal audit report;

6. That on December 7nd, the Committee hold a meeting on Canada-European Union trade arrangements, and invite both negotiators and witnesses to appear;

7. That on December 9th, the Committee hold a meeting on the issue of the Railway Costing Review;

8. That on December 14th and December 16th, the Committee commence its study of the biotechnology industry.

Alex Atamanenko moved, — That the Committee recommend the government uphold the right of farmers to load producer cars and amend any necessary legislation to prohibit Canadian railway companies from arbitrarily closing down producer car loading sites, and that this be reported to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre Lemieux moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “recommend the government uphold the right of farmers to load producer cars and amend any necessary legislation to prohibit Canadian railway companies from arbitrarily closing down producer car loading sites, and that this be reported to the House” with the words “study the right of farmers to load producer cars to ensure that Canadian railway companies do not arbitrarily close down producer car loading sites”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: Dean Allison, Pierre Lemieux, LaVar Payne, Blake Richards, Brian Storseth — 5; NAYS: Alex Atamanenko, Josée Beaudin, André Bellavance, Wayne Easter, Francis Valeriote — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

Blake Richards moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the government uphold the right of farmers to load producer cars and amend any necessary legislation to prohibit Canadian railway companies from arbitrarily closing down producer car loading sites, and that this be reported to the House” with the words “that the government conduct a study to uphold the right of farmers to load producer cars to ensure that Canadian railway companies do not arbitrarily close down producer car loading sites, and take necessary action”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: Dean Allison, Pierre Lemieux, LaVar Payne, Blake Richards, Brian Storseth — 5; NAYS: Alex Atamanenko, Josée Beaudin, André Bellavance, Wayne Easter, Francis Valeriote — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Alex Atamanenko, — That the Committee recommend the government uphold the right of farmers to load producer cars and amend any necessary legislation to prohibit Canadian railway companies from arbitrarily closing down producer car loading sites, and that this be reported to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Alex Atamanenko, Josée Beaudin, André Bellavance, Wayne Easter, Francis Valeriote — 5; NAYS: — 0.

Francis Valeriote moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake an immediate study of animal welfare including, without limitation, the number of animals dying or severely injured during transport, overcrowding transport conditions, overcrowded living conditions, the adequacy of the number of animal inspectors for the enforcement of animal welfare conditions, and the adequacy of animal welfare regulations, among others.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

At 10:46 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.