Skip to main content
Start of content

AGRI Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 14
 
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
 

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 11:10 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Larry Miller, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, France Bonsant, Hon. Wayne Easter, Hon. Mark Eyking, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, Larry Miller, Blake Richards, Brian Storseth and Francis Valeriote.

 

Acting Members present: Kirsty Duncan for Francis Valeriote, Candice Hoeppner for Pierre Lemieux and Ed Holder for Bev Shipley.

 

Associate Members present: Steven Blaney.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge, Analyst. House of Commons: Isabelle Duford, Committee Clerk.

 

Witnesses: Chicken Farmers of Canada: Mike Dungate, General Manager. Ontario Cattlemen's Association: Gord Hardy, President; Dave Stewart, Executive Director; Kim Sytsma, Director. As an individual: John Vancise, Farmer.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the Committee resumed its study of Competitiveness of Canadian Agriculture.
 

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

Alex Atamanenko moved, — That the Committee undertake a study which assesses the economic impacts on conventional and organic producers of the release into the environment of Genetically Modified (GM) alfalfa prior to commercialization via variety registration of Monsanto’s GM Roundup Ready alfalfa which has already received environmental and health approvals.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived.

 

André Bellavance moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee having studied the issue of the golden nematode, which is affecting the region of St-Amable in Quebec, report to the House of Commons as soon as possible the following recommendations:

1. That the federal government renegotiate with the Government of Québec payment of the requested financial assistance of $24 million, representing less than 80% of estimated costs of $30.7 million for a 10-year transition plan;

2. That, since in her report of December 2008 the Auditor General noted that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) faces a number of challenges in assessing the risks posed by invasive plants, pests and diseases, the Committee recommend that the CFIA make available its action plans and timelines for solving the problems in this case; and

3. That pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Debate arose thereon.

 

At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Miriam Burke
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2009/10/06 8:57 a.m.