AGRI Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 7

Thursday, November 25, 1999

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 9:02 a.m., this day, in Room 701, La Promenade Building, the Chair, John Harvard, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hélène Alarie, Mark Assad, Rick Borotsik, Murray Calder, John Harvard, Howard Hilstrom, Larry McCormick, Ian Murray, Gerry Ritz, Rose-Marie Ur.

Acting Members present: Rick Casson for Garry Breitkreuz; Joe Jordan for Paul Steckle; Karen Redman for Ian Murray; Judi Longfield for Gar Knutson.

Associate Member present: John Solomon.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch - Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge, Researcher; Jean-Denis Fréchette, Economist.

Witnesses: From the Rural Municipalities of Regina: Sinclair Harrison, President. From the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers: Allan Holt, President. From the Keystone Agricultural Producers: Donald R. Dewar, President.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of the effectiveness of long-term safety nets and other national initiatives to provide the stability and environment necessary for stable growth in the agricultural industry.

Sinclair Harrison, Donald R. Dewar and Allan Holt made opening statements and answered questions.

At 11:32 a.m., the sitting is suspended.

At 11:38 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The Chair presented the First Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure, which reads as follows:

Your Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, November 23, 1999, to consider the future business of the Committee and has agreed to make the following recommendations:

It was agreed, -- That the Committee do undertake a trip to the western provinces, for a week, starting December 5, 1999, in relation to its study of the effectiveness of long-term safety nets and other national initiatives to provide the stability and environment necessary for stable growth in the agricultural industry.

The Committee will be going to Portage La Prairie, Brandon and Dauphin in Manitoba; Prince Albert, Regina and Estevan in Saskatchewan and in Grande Prairie, Vegreville and Airdrie in Alberta.

The length of each meeting will be three hours and half (3½), and the Committee will cover the travelling cost of farmers who are asked to appear and are present before the Committee.

Respectfully submitted,

On motion of Rose-Marie Ur, seconded by Larry McCormick, it was agreed, -- That the first Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda be concurred in.

Larry McCormick moved, -- That, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, be authorized to travel to Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta), from December 5, to 10, 1999, in relation to its Study of the effectiveness of long term Safety nets and other national initiatives to provide the stability and environment necessary for stable growth in the agricultural industry and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee, and

-- That the Chair be authorized to seek the House's permission to travel.

A debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the debate on the amendment was suspended.

By unanimous consent, Hélène Alarie moved, -- That this Committee study and report to the House about a clear and mandatory labelling mechanism for geneticaly modified organisms.

After debate, it was agreed, -- That the motion do remain on the Committee's agenda until further notice, in the new year.

The Committee resumed the suspended debate on the motion of Howard Hilstrom, --That the motion be amended by inserting the words " and rural parts of Ontario" between the words "Alberta" and ", from".

After debate, the question being on the amendment, it was negatived on the following division: YEAS=3; NAYS=8.

YEAS = Rick Casson, Howard Hilstrom, Gerry Ritz.

NAYS= Mark Assad, Murray Calder, Judi Longfield, Larry McCormick, Karen Redman, Joe Jordan, Hélène Alarie, Rick Borotsik.

Howard Hilstrom moved, -- That the motion be amended by replacing the words "December 5, to 10, 1999" with "December 5, 1999 through January 31, 2000".

After debate, the question being on the amendment, it was negatived on the following division: YEAS=3; NAYS=9.

YEAS = Rick Casson, Howard Hilstrom, Gerry Ritz.

NAYS= Mark Assad, Murray Calder, Judi Longfield, Larry McCormick, Karen Redman, Joe Jordan, Hélène Alarie, Rick Borotsik, Rose-Marie Ur.

Howard Hilstrom moved, -- That the motion be amended by inserting the words "and to hear directly from primary producers who have been unable to present their concerns at Committee hearings in Ottawa" between the words "agricultural industry" and "and that".

After debate, the question being on the amendment, it was negatived on the following division: YEAS=3; NAYS=8.

YEAS = Rick Casson, Howard Hilstrom, Gerry Ritz.

NAYS= Judi Longfield, Larry McCormick, Karen Redman, Ian Murray, Joe Jordan, Hélène Alarie, Rick Borotsik, Rose-Marie Ur.

The question being put on the main motion, -- That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, be authorized to travel to Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta), from December 5, to 10, 1999, in relation to its Study of the effectiveness of long term Safety nets and other national initiatives to provide the stability and environment necessary for stable growth in the agricultural industry and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee, and -- That the Chair be authorized to seek the House's permission to travel, it was unanimously agreed to.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, -- That the budget relating to the trip of the Committee to Western Canada in relation to the Study of the effectiveness of long term Safety nets and other national initiatives to provide the stability and environment necessary for stable growth in the agricultural industry, totaling $169, 331. 00 be agreed to, and

-- That, the Chair be authorized to submit it to the Liaison Committee.

At 12:23 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Georges Etoka

Clerk of the Committee