AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met in camera at 3:40 p.m. this day, in Room 269 West Block, the Chair, Paul Steckle, presiding.

It was agreed on division, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $15,893.00 for the Committee’s travel to Vancouer and Abbotsford, B.C. from May 2 to May 4, 2004 be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed on division, — That a letter be sent to Cargill Foods, Lakeside Packers Ltd., Levinoff Meat Products Ltd. and Better Beef Limited, stating that this Committee is aware that certain information provided by the aforementioned companies, may contain sensitive business information, therefore the Clerk of the Committee is directed to not provide copies of the information received to Members of the Committee. The Clerk is directed to provide the information to the Office of the Law Clerk and such individual(s) that may be engaged by the Library of Parliament for the purpose of reviewing the information received and preparing a report to this Committee, such report to be prepared in such a fashion as to protect specific sensitive business information that may disclose the identity of any person or corporation providing such information .

It was agreed on division, — That these companies produce the previously requested documents no later than April 30, 2004 .

It was agreed on division, — That the Chair of the Committee retain the services of the required number of relevant experts from the Library of Parliament, in order to review and report to the Committee or newly reconstituted Committee, any findings as a result of the required documents being supplied to the Committee by April 30, 2004 .

It was agreed on division, — That the documents provided to the Clerk in accordance with the motions dated March 29 and April 21, 2004 be retained by the Clerk’s office for such time as they may be required by the Committee or its successor, and thereafter be destroyed. In the event that the report required by the motion of April 21, 2004 is not made to the Committee during this Parliament, the documents are to be retained by the Clerk to be dealt with in such manner as may be directed by the successor Committee established by the 38th Parliament. If the Clerk receives no such direction within 30 days of the establishment of the successor Committee, the documents provided to the Clerk in accordance with the motions dated March 29 and April 21, 2004 shall be destroyed .

It was agreed on division, — That if these companies fail to produce the said documents, the matter will be reported to the House.

At 4:46 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.