AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Vice-Chair, André Bellavance, presiding.

Larry Miller moved, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food invite the newly-established Competition Policy Review Panel for a briefing session to discuss the concentration and dominant position of some businesses at various levels of the Agri-food chain, including packers, retailers, distributors and processors and the effects it has on Canadian farmers and consumers.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Alex Atamanenko moved, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food recommend that the government immediately reimburse farmers for an amount equivalent to the severance package of Mr. Adrian Measner, which was incurred when the government fired him from his position as President of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Debate arose thereon.

At 3:40 p.m. James Bezan took the Chair.

David Anderson moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “Agri-Food” with the following: “study Mr. Measner's severance and retirement and pension package as well as his last 2 years salary and benefits, including membership, salary, benefits, bonuses, health care insurance coverage and on going obligations, relating to his dismissal by the government from his position as President of the Canadian Wheat Board”.

Debate arose thereon.

Carol Skelton moved, — That the Committee suspend consideration of present Committee Business to allow the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to appear in front of the Committee for an hour, on its study on Growing Forward and resumed the said Committee Business for the rest of the meeting.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:29 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:56 p.m., the sitting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of David Anderson and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Alex Atamanenko moved, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food recommend that the government immediately reimburse farmers for the extra costs incurred by the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) as a result of the government’s changes to the election rules after the process for a Director’s election had already begun.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Carol Skelton moved, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food condemn the message in the calendar produced by the Kerrobert Credit Union and ask Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to investigate how this calendar was funded and if any other Credit Unions are using a similar template for their calendars.

Debate arose thereon.

Guy Lauzon moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “Agri-Food” with the words: “send a letter to Credit Union Central of Canada expressing its displeasure with the template calendar they have distributed with an anti-farming message on it”.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it exceeded the scope of the motion, as provided on page 453 of House of Commons Procedure and Practive.

Larry Miller moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “calendar” with the following: “produced by the Kerrobert Credit Union and Credit Union Central of Canada for producing this template for their calendars and that the Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food send a letter to Credit Union Central of Canada expressing this concern”.

Debate arose thereon.

André Bellavance moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “condemn” with the words “disagree with the message”.

The question was put on the subamendment of André Bellavance and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Larry Miller, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food disagree with the message in the calendar produced by the Kerrobert Credit Union and Credit Union Central of Canada for producing this template for their calendars and that the Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food send a letter to Credit Union Central of Canada expressing this concern.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Larry Miller moved, — That the draft budget for the Committee’s study on Growing Forward to the amount of $39,700 be adopted.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Wayne Easter moved, — That the draft budget for the Committee’s study on the Collapse of the Beef and Pork Sector Revenues to the amount of $18,700 be adopted.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

At 5:33 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.