AGRI Committee News Release

OTTAWA – March 6, 2001 - The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food expressed its deepest concern regarding the devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease affecting the livestock production in Europe.

The Chair of the Committee, Mr.Charles Hubbard, M.P. for Miramichi, wrote to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Lyle Vanclief and to the Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Martin Cauchon urging them to ensure that their officials take all precautionary measures at our borders to safeguard our livestock from this affliction. “Although the Members of the Committee are aware that officials at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have already increased the examination of people and the inspection of goods coming from Europe, they cannot over emphazise the necessity of vigilance on the part of our customs and food inspection officials, as our front line staff, to prevent this terrible disease from entering our borders.” stated Mr. Hubbard.

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In addition to the Chair Charles Hubbard, the members of the Committee are:

David L. Anderson, M.P. for Cypress Hills—Grasslands; Rick Borotsik, M.P. for Brandon-Souris; Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton—Melville; Murray Calder (Vice-Chair), M.P. for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey; Claude Duplain, M.P. for Portneuf; Marcel Gagnon, M.P. for Champlain; Howard Hilstrom (Vice-Chair), M.P. for Selkirk—Interlake; Rick Laliberte, M.P. for Churchill River; Larry McCormick, M.P. for Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington; Jerry Pickard, M.P. for Chatham—Kent Essex; Dick Proctor, M.P. for Palliser; Bob Speller, M.P. for Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant; Paul Steckle, M.P. for Huron—Bruce; Suzanne Tremblay, M.P. for Rimouski-Neigette-et-la-Mitis; Rose-Marie Ur, M.P. for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex