AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 11:02 a.m. this day, in Room 536, Wellington Building, the Chair, Gerry Ritz, presiding.

It was agreed, — That, the order of the agenda items be reversed.

At 11:07 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:07 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Wayne Easter moved, — “That, the Standing Committee on Agriculture & Agri-food, undertake an emergency review on Oct 24, 25, 26, 2006, of the Government’s actions toward the Canadian Wheat Board.

The following is a list of witnesses, as requested by the Hon.Wayne Easter, MP, Alex Atamanenko, MP, André Bellavance, MP, to be called in relation to this Motion:

• Minister of Agriculture & Agri-food

• Minister of Agriculture for Saskatchewan

• Minister of Agriculture for Manitoba

• Laurent Pellerin, President, UPA

• Laurence Nicholson, Alberta Co-Chair, Real Voice for Choice - Seven Person, AB, (403) 527-6804

• Prairie Producer Coalition

1. Ken McBride, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan President APAS Office: (306) 789-7774

2. David Rolfe, Keystone Agricultural Producers President Cell: (204) 483-0502

3. Lenore Smaldon, Keystone Agricultural Producers Communications KAP Office: (204) 697-1140

• Howard Migies, Chair of the Task Force on Marketing Choice

• David Anderson, P.C., M.P.

• Mary-Lynne Charlton, President, Charlton Communications Suite 300 - 1914 Hamilton St. Regina, Sk S4P 3N6 Ph: 306-584-1000 .

By unanimous consent, on motion of Wayne Easter, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words after “Board”.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, Ken Boshcoff, Wayne Easter, Jean-Yves Roy, Paul Steckle, Robert Thibault — 7; NAYS: David Anderson, James Bezan, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller — 4.

André Bellavance moved, — That, in light of the urgency of the situation for farmers of potatoes and other host crops affected by the potato cyst nematode in the St-Amable area in Quebec, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food hear evidence from them during the meeting immediately following the meeting during which this motion is passed.

Debate arose thereon.

Jacques Gourde moved, — That the motion be amended by substituting all the words after “Agri-food” with the following: should go to Saint-Amable and hold a Committee meeting on-site.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jacques Gourde and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: David Anderson, James Bezan, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller — 4; NAYS: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, Ken Boshcoff, Wayne Easter, Jean-Yves Roy, Paul Steckle, Robert Thibault — 7.

Robert Thibault moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “passed” by the following: “and that the committee visit St-Amable at a later date”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Robert Thibault and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: David Anderson, Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, James Bezan, Ken Boshcoff, Wayne Easter, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller, Jean-Yves Roy, Paul Steckle, Robert Thibault — 11; NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, in light of the urgency of the situation for farmers of potatoes and other host crops affected by the potato cyst nematode in the St-Amable area in Quebec, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food hear evidence from them during the meeting immediately following the meeting during which this motion is passed and that the committee visit St-Amable at a later date” .

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: David Anderson, Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, James Bezan, Ken Boshcoff, Wayne Easter, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller, Jean-Yves Roy, Paul Steckle, Robert Thibault — 11; NAYS: — 0.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:06 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

At 1:03 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.