It shows, Mr. Drouin.
Farmers do crop rotations and there are concerns about all of that. The other producers I met yesterday from Cereals Canada are really worried about everything that is coming.
This shows to what extent this crisis is not being taken seriously by the government.
As you may recall, in the beginning of March, we sent a letter. It was not signed by all of the members of the opposition, because we did not have the opportunity to collect everyone's signature. That said, in the beginning of March, long before the Standing Committee on International Trade began to examine this question, we had requested that the ministers appear here so that we could discuss this situation. So this is an unacceptable and incomprehensible excuse. I don't know what people are afraid of.
What you will remember is that the first time we invited the new Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to come to testify here before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, she fled. The Liberals are refusing to hear their new minister at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. This is unacceptable. This is a crisis that affects farmers. Not only does it affect canola producers, but all other producers as well. It is going to affect maple products and perhaps also pork and beef; we don't know. We want to hear the minister. At the first opportunity the Liberals have to talk about this file, what do they say? They tell us that they don't want to hear the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
I think this silence speaks volumes. What is she afraid of? Why does she not want to come to this committee?
To my knowledge, next week, the Standing Committee on International Trade will be hearing the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. She agreed to appear before that committee but not before the agriculture committee. The Standing Committee on International Trade will also hear the Minister of International Trade Diversification; it is normal that he appear there, since that is his committee. We had also asked that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Freeland, appear. Unfortunately, she will not be here. She can come and testify at this committee if she wants to; we will welcome her. It would not be duplication. However, you did not propose that. Ms. Bibeau herself stated that the dossier is currently in the hands of Ms. Freeland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The only person the Liberals do not want to see at the Standing Committee on International Trade or at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is Ms. Freeland.
It is time we woke up. There is a real crisis and it is urgent.
There is another element in the amendment that is totally absurd. There has been a crisis since the month of March and the suggestion is that we hold a meeting with representatives of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and industry representatives on April 12 at the latest. Why postpone that to April 12? We should have heard representatives from the agency and the industry this week or at the beginning of next week, at least. Why wait two weeks?
We should hear these people at our next meeting. We should hold an extraordinary meeting Sunday; that would not bother me. We could also hear them Monday. Why wait? There really is a crisis. The entire canola industry is worried and that concern also affects all grain producers in Canada. We are also concerned for all of our productions.
A record quantity of canola is continuing to accumulate in silos in the west. Why? You will remember that it was a hard winter and harvest. There were also transportation problems again. The current crisis is generating a lot of uncertainty.
A recent article states that the “majority of Canada’s harvest is stored on-farm. As such, many farmers fear they won’t have the space they need to store the 2019 harvest if the situation with China isn’t resolved soon.”
The article also states that there are concerns about “possible bottlenecks throughout Canada's grain handling system that could restrict the grain industry's ability to get other crops to market. Canada's rail system is already operating at or near capacity.... [This] dispute with China has cost the Canadian canola industry [approximately] $1 billion in losses since it began in early March. Meanwhile, the Canola Council of Canada said prices have dropped 10 per cent in recent weeks.”
Falling prices also mean that many farmers in western Canada haven't contracted as much grain as they traditionally do because current prices are simply too low. The article states that crop spoilage is “another thing that farmers are worried about”, and that last year's “challenging harvest”, due to early snowfall and high moisture, “means a lot of the canola currently stored on-farm in western Canada has a higher moisture level than normal, which means the crop cannot be stored as long.”
This is the reality, Mr. Chair. This is why it is urgent to act right now, not in two weeks.
We need to hear from the new ag minister. She doesn't have to fear us. We want answers for Canadians. We want answers for canola growers. We want answers for producers. We want to hear from the trade minister. We want to tell him how important it is for farmers that trade with other countries be predictable. We must say that as producers and from an agricultural viewpoint. We must tell him. We should. The one who is responsible for naming an ambassador for trade, for a relationship with China, won't appear at any of these two committees...? This is unacceptable, Mr. Chair. That's why we cannot accept this amendment.
We will not accept this amendment. We will not let the Liberals get away with this. Producers need answers. I hope they will focus on something else other than the cover-up they have been worried about for eight or nine weeks now. That's the real problem.
It's now time to take up your responsibility and do the right thing. Let the ministers appear before us and have this meeting as soon as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.