AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, James Bezan, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:22 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:25 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That in the absence of Wayne Easter, consideration of his motion be postponed to Tuesday, February 13, 2007.

The Chair presented the Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

That the Committee adopt the following work plan to the end of April 2007:

• Thursday, February 8 – Issues related to the farm equipment industry

• Tuesday, February 13 – Follow-up on Own Use Import Program (OUI)

• Thursday, February 15 – Specified Risk Management (SRMs) Ban Implementation, July 2007

• Tuesday, February 20 – Status Report on Trade Issues with Mr. Steve Verheul, Chief Agricultural Negotiator

• Thursday, February 22 – Dairy Ingredients Study

• Tuesday, February 27 – First hour of meeting: Canadian Wheat Board hearings with Ms. Mary-Lynne Charlton, President, Charlton Communications; Mr. Greg Arason and David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food; Second hour of the meeting – Consideration of a draft report on the Canadian Wheat Board

• Thursday, March 1 – Biofuels Study

• Tuesday, March 20 – 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm - Biofuels Study; 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm - Impact of the Farm Income Crisis

• Thursday, March 22 – Biofuels Study

• March 26 to 30 – Western Canada hearings on the Next Generation of Agriculture and Agri-food Policy – emphasis on Business Risk Management

• April 10 to 13 – Eastern Canada hearings on the Next Generation of Agriculture and Agri-food Policy – emphasis on Business Risk Management

• April 16 to 18 – Travel to Washington, DC on the US Farm Bill

• Tuesday April 24 – Follow up on the Pork Industry Crisis

• Thursday, April 26 – Follow up on the Terminator Seeds (GURTS);

That the Committee add any additional meetings to deal with urgent requests for hearings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings;

That the Committee agree to request an additional $16,000 to cover expenses related to Order in Council appointments to the end of March 31, 2007.

It was agreed, — That the recommendations contained in the Report be amended by moving the Study on Dairy Ingredients from February 22, 2007 to follow the meeting with Mr. Steve Verheul, Chief Agricultural Negociator at 4:30 on February 20, 2007 and, that the Study on the Impact of the Farm Income Crisis be moved from Tuesday, March 20, 2007 to Thursday, February 22, 2007.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adopt the Report as amended to serve as a guideline for the Committee's workplan to the end of April 2007.

It was further agreed, — That the Committee invite Craig Hunter from the Canadian Horticultural Council and Gordon Bacon, Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Canada, to appear with Dr. Karen Dodds of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 on the Own Use Program and the Use of Strychnine in Western Canada.

At 5:37 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.