AGRI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 30

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met in a televised session at 3:47 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Hon. Mark Eyking, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: André Bellavance, Hon. Wayne Easter, Hon. Mark Eyking, Pierre Lemieux, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley, Brian Storseth and Francis Valeriote.

Acting Members present: David Christopherson for Alex Atamanenko, Earl Dreeshen for Larry Miller, Luc Malo for France Bonsant and Phil McColeman for Randy Hoback.

Associate Members present: Hon. Carolyn Bennett.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge, Analyst . House of Commons: Jean-François Lafleur, Procedural Clerk.

Witnesses: Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Carole Swan, President; Stephen Baker, Vice-President, Finance; Brian Evans, Executive Vice-President; Cameron Prince, Vice-President, Operations; Paul Mayers, Associate Vice-President, Programs. Agriculture Union: Bob Kingston, National President, Inspection Supervisor, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Burnaby, B.C.). Public Health Agency of Canada: Mark Raizenne, Director General, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CFEZID).

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on August 26, 2009, the Committee commenced its study of the report of the independent investigator into the 2008 listeriosis outbreak.

Brian Storseth moved, — That the Committee commend Sheila Weatherill, the independant investigator into last summer's Listeriosis outbreak for her excellent work, and, consequently, the Committee is of the view that no public inquiry is necessary.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre Lemieux moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and, consequently,” with the following: “; that Ms. Weatherhill's in-depth examination has provided Canadians with a complete and comprehensive review of the events of last summer and recommendations that will improve Canada's food safety system; and that due to this extensive review,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Pierre Lemieux and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Earl Dreeshen, Pierre Lemieux, Phil McColeman, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley, Brian Storseth — 6; NAYS: André Bellavance, David Christopherson, Wayne Easter, Luc Malo, Francis Valeriote — 5.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Earl Dreeshen, Pierre Lemieux, Phil McColeman, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley, Brian Storseth — 6; NAYS: André Bellavance, David Christopherson, Wayne Easter, Luc Malo, Francis Valeriote — 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee commend Sheila Weatherill, the independant investigator into last summer's Listeriosis outbreak for her excellent work; that Ms. Weatherhill's in-depth examination has provided Canadians with a complete and comprehensive review of the events of last summer and recommendations that will improve Canada's food safety system; and that due to this extensive review, the Committee is of the view that no public inquiry is necessary.

It was agreed, — That the Chair present the motion to the House at the first available opportunity.

Carole Swan and Bob Kingston made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 5:03 p.m. André Bellavance took the Chair.

At 5:32 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Isabelle Duford
Clerk of the Committee

2009/11/24 10:13 a.m.