AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Gerry Ritz, presiding.

Gaston Jorré made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 4:33 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:36 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

Janak Shah made a statement and, with the other witness, answered questions.

It was agreed, — That the draft report be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: Final Report: Financial Analysis Relative to Meat Packing Companies in the context of BSE Crisis of 2003.

It was agreed, — That the Chair, Clerk and researchers be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That, at the dissolution of the 38th Parliament, the Clerk of the Committee be instructed to destroy all confidential documents related to the study on pricing of beef at the slaughter, wholesale and retail levels, in the context of the BSE crisis in Canada, which commenced during the 3rd Session of the 37th Parliament.

At 5:17 p.m., the Committee resumed sitting in public.

André Bellavance moved, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food report to the House of Commons the following recommendations:

(1) That the government of Canada reiterate its unalterable support for supply management, as an equitable agricultural model, and for the farmers who depend on it;

(2) That the government of Canada make no concessions regarding supply-managed production during the current WTO negotiations;

(3) That the government of Canada mandate its negotiators so that, at the conclusion of the current round of negotiations, the supply-managed sectors will not be subject to any over-quota tariff reductions or tariff quota increases, so that these sectors continue to provide farmers with fair and equitable market revenues; and

Debate arose thereon.

Wayne Easter moved, — That the motion be amended by adding in paragraph 3 after the word “negotiations,” the following: “any over-quota tariff reductions or tariff quota increases are minimized to the greatest extent possible for supply managed products,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Wayne Easter and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Wayne Easter, Mark Eyking, Wajid Khan, Kevin Sorenson — 4; NAYS: David Anderson, Charlie Angus, André Bellavance, James Bezan — 4.

Charlie Angus moved, — That the motion be amended by adding in paragraph 1, after the word “management”, the following: “and single-desk selling”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Charlie Angus and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Wayne Easter, Mark Eyking, Wajid Khan — 4; NAYS: David Anderson, André Bellavance, James Bezan, Kevin Sorenson — 4.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charlie Angus, Wayne Easter, Mark Eyking, Wajid Khan — 4; NAYS: David Anderson, André Bellavance, James Bezan, Kevin Sorenson — 4.

At 5:46 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:47 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Adrian Measner made a statement and answered questions.

It was agreed on division, — That the Committee waive further consideration of the nomination of Adrian Measner for appointment to the position of President of the Canadian Wheat Board.

It was agreed, — That the Committee waive further consideration of the nomination of John J. Ryan for appointment to the position of President of Farm Credit Canada.

At 6:32 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

CORRIGENDUM

Minutes of Proceedings No. 65 of Monday, November 21, 2005.

Changes following a motion on November 23, 2005, to make public part of the in camera proceedings.