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Minutes of Proceedings

42nd Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting No. 13
Monday, May 16, 2016, 3:30 p.m. to 5:17 p.m.
Presiding
Pat Finnigan, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Frédéric Forge, Analyst
• Khamla Heminthavong, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee commenced its study of supply management, dairy producers, and the Canadian dairy industry.

Motion

Adam Vaughan moved, — That the Committee recommend to the House the following:

That the House recognizes that the government strongly supports supply management, dairy producers, and the Canadian dairy industry; and, consequently, the House urges the government to:

(a) recognize the magnitude of the economic losses to Canadian dairy producers from the importation of diafiltered milk, which has increased significantly over the last few years;

(b) recognize that the industry call for the problem to be resolved rapidly;

(c) meet with dairy producers and Canadian dairy industry, within the next thirty (30) days, in order to address the immediate impact of the economic losses cause by the importation of diafiltered milk, and to propose a sustainable solution toward modernizing the dairy industry; and

That the Chair report this to the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Ruth Ellen Brosseau moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “ thirty (30) ” with the word “eighteen (18)”.

Amendment

Chris Warkentin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “issue” the following: “and that the Minister appear in front of the Committee, to explain his findings and tell the Committee what he intends to do to resolve this issue”.

Subamendment

By unanimous consent, Adam Vaughan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “Committee” the following: “at his earliest convenience”.

The question was put on the amendment of Chris Warkentin, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 0.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee recommend to the House the following:

That the House recognizes that the government strongly supports supply management, dairy producers, and the Canadian dairy industry; and, consequently, the House urges the government to:

(a) recognize the magnitude of the economic losses to Canadian dairy producers from the importation of diafiltered milk, which has increased significantly over the last few years;

(b) recognize that the industry call for the problem to be resolved rapidly;

(c) meet with dairy producers and Canadian dairy industry, within the next eighteen (18) days, in order to address the immediate impact of the economic losses cause by the importation of diafiltered milk, and to propose a sustainable solution toward modernizing the dairy industry;

That the Minister appear in front of the Committee, at his earliest convenience, to explain his findings and tell the Committee what he intends to do to resolve this issue; and

That the Chair report this to the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity.

Vegpro International Inc.
• Jocelyn St-Denis, Executive Director, Finance and Business Strategies
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association
• Jason Verkaik, Chair
Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation
• Fred Webber, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Monday, May 2, 2016, the Committee resumed its study of Canada’s Preferential Status under the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

On motion of Chris Warkentin, it was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $6,900 for the study of Canada’s Preferential Status under the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) be adopted.

Jocelyn St-Denis, by videoconference from Sherrington, Quebec, Jason Verkaik and Fred Webber made statements and answered questions.

At 4:44 p.m., Bev Shipley took the Chair.

At 4:48 p.m., Pat Finnigan took the Chair.

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

On motion of Ruth Ellen Brosseau, it was agreed, — That the Committee produce a report on its study of Canada’s Preferential Status under the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA); and that the report be presented to the House.

On motion of Francis Drouin, it was agreed, — That the Committee invite Professor Ron C.C. Cuming to present his research related to Canada’s Preferential Status under the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) to the Committee, if possible on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

On motion of Chris Warkentin, it was agreed, — That the Chair, with the assistance of the Clerk, organise the schedule of the first meetings of June 2016 in order to complete the study on Bee Health Monitoring in Canada and undertake the study on Canada's Next Multi-year Agricultural Policy Framework.

At 5:17 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



David Chandonnet
Clerk of the Committee