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Results: 1 - 15 of 158
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:23
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Gentlemen, thank you for coming this afternoon. I listened to your statements as well as my colleagues' questions. I am quite honestly surprised.
I represent Pontiac, a rural riding in the Outaouais region, where there are several beef producers. Obviously, the Pontiac beef industry is not at all like that of western Canada where you find feedlots of 20,000 to 30,000 cattle. In my riding we're talking about nice small farms with about 500 or 600 head of cattle, and people make their living from this.
You undertook an analysis. You talked with feedlot operators, farmers, representatives of associations, of the industry, and grocers. If I have understood correctly, you're telling us today that after these mergers, competition and the industry are alive and well.
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:24
Farmers working the land get up at 5 o'clock in the morning to take care of the animals in their stables, to harvest their hay, etc. They work seven days out of seven. They discount their beef because they are not able to sell it at its true market value. The buyer refuses to pay more, because there is a surplus of beef. When producers go to their local grocery store—most often Provigo in smaller communities—they see their meat being sold at higher prices. Of course, they don't buy it at the grocery store.
What should we be telling those people today?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:26
Let's bring this down to a smaller scale, to the village of Shawville, for example. That's pretty local. What should we tell those farmers who have a herd of 700 cattle?
We're encouraging these people to build new slaughter plants. The government has established new programs and all the necessary structures to support them. We're telling the farmers that we'll be reinforcing their power, that they'll be able to start their own slaughter plants, establish cooperatives, have all the necessary elements.
What should we tell those people, those people who would like to pass their farms on to their children?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:26
I understand that you work within a legislative framework. I ask you then to express an opinion that falls outside the legislative framework, a personal opinion. You've done your homework.
What is your perception of the industry today? If you were a farmer, how would you see the situation, as an individual?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:27
But somewhere some people made money, they got richer. If the farmer was selling his beef at a lower price to a slaughter plant, then someone made money somewhere, because the cost of beef did not go down in the grocery store.
Who do you think make that extra money?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 16:28
Take, for example, the farmer who was selling his cattle at $600 and who then had to sell them for $150—
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:17
Thank you very much, Mr. Measner, for being here this afternoon.
In the month of November, I had the pleasure of assisting at the Geneva discussions with Minister Mitchell and Minister Peterson. We had the opportunity on two different occasions to meet with the delegations from the Canadian Wheat Board and the CFA. The first time was a discussion and a consultation on the previous discussions that we were having during the day. We had a debriefing with them before leaving, to share what was going on and what was discussed during the few days that we were in Geneva.
My question would be this. I'm not an expert on the Canadian Wheat Board. How many members are there in the Canadian Wheat Board?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:18
For example, you indicated there are members that are part of this organization.
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:18
Employee-wise?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:18
But farmers who are members of this....
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:19
So 55,000 farmers.
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:19
Okay.
If we were to send out a survey to those 55,000 farmers and ask them what their level of satisfaction with the Canadian Wheat Board is, what would it be?
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:19
That's based on your perception.
View David Smith Profile
Lib. (QC)
View David Smith Profile
2005-11-21 18:19
The minister and the Prime Minister have both indicated that the importance of protecting and keeping the Canadian Wheat Board as it's structured is a sensitive issue with the negotiations for the WTO. Tell me, what do you foresee for the future for your organization?
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