Christopher White, Ron Lemaire and Dennis Prouse made statements and, with Ron Davidson, answered questions.

At 4:24 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Jack Froese, Pierre Lampron and Ayla Fenton made statements and, with Catherine Scovil and Yves Leduc, answered questions.

At 5:14 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:18 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That a proposed budget in the amount of $12,950, for the study of a food policy for Canada, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Fifth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, in relation to its study of a food policy for Canada, the Committee add a hearing meeting on October 17, 2017, and invite the following witnesses to appear: Cooperation in Agro-Food New Brunswick, Dr. Hilal Elver, the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, the National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Slow Food in Canada and the Canada Organic Trade Association.

2. That, in relation to its study of a food policy for Canada, the Committee communicate to the next witnesses the four pillars proposed by the government for the food policy, with a view to determining whether, in their opinion, this proposed policy is complete.

3. That the meetings of Thursday, October 19, Tuesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 26, 2017, be dedicated to consideration of the draft report on the study of non-tariff trade barriers to the sale of agricultural products in relation to free trade agreements.

4. That the meetings of Tuesday, October 31 and Thursday, November 2, 2017, be dedicated to consideration of the draft report on the study of a food policy for Canada, provided that the report can be presented to the House of Commons before the government’s unveiling of official policy.

5. That for future meetings, should there be more than three organizations in a one-hour panel, witnesses be given six minutes rather than seven for their opening remarks.

6. That, for future Committee studies, witnesses be selected by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, with a view to organizing them in thematic panels where possible.

It was agreed, — That, as part of its study of a food policy for Canada, the Committee invite Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to appear at its meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2017.