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AGRI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 15
 
Thursday, April 23, 2009
 

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Larry Miller, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, France Bonsant, Hon. Wayne Easter, Hon. Mark Eyking, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, Larry Miller, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley and Brian Storseth.

 

Acting Members present: Hon. Navdeep Bains for Hon. Mark Eyking and Siobhan Coady for Francis Valeriote.

 

Associate Members present: Kirsty Duncan.

 

In attendance: House of Commons: Isabelle Duford, Committee Clerk. Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge, Analyst.

 

Witnesses: Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers: John Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer; Gary Sands, Vice-President, Government and Industry Relations.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the Committee resumed its study of competitiveness of Canadian agriculture.
 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of André Bellavance, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee having studied the issue of the golden nematode, which is affecting the region of St-Amable in Quebec, report to the House of Commons as soon as possible the following recommendations:

1. That the federal government renegotiate with the Government of Québec payment of the requested financial assistance of $24 million, representing less than 80% of estimated costs of $30.7 million for a 10-year transition plan;

2. That since in her report of December 2008 the Auditor General noted that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) faces a number of challenges in assessing the risks posed by invasive plants, pests and diseases, the Committee recommend that the CFIA make available its action plans and timelines for solving the problems in this case; and

3. That pursuant to Standing Order 109 the Committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

The debate continued.

 

Pierre Lemieux moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “report to the House of Commons as soon as possible the following recommendations” with the words “consider including the following recommendations in its report to the House of Commons”.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Pierre Lemieux and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, France Bonsant, Siobhan Coady, Wayne Easter — 5; NAYS: Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, Blake Richards, Bev Shipley, Brian Storseth — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the motion was negatived.

 

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

 

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

 



Miriam Burke
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2009/10/06 8:58 a.m.