AGRI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 52

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met in a televised session at 8:49 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Merv Tweed, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Malcolm Allen, Alex Atamanenko, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, LaVar Payne, Blake Richards, Brian Storseth, Merv Tweed, Frank Valeriote and Bob Zimmer.

Acting Members present: Charmaine Borg for Ruth Ellen Brosseau and John Rafferty for Francine Raynault.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Marlisa Tiedemann, Chief ; Khamla Heminthavong, Analyst.

Appearing: Hon. Gerry Ritz, P.C., M.P., Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.

Witnesses: Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Colleen Barnes, Executive Director, Domestic Policy Directorate; Neil Bouwer, Vice-President, Policy and Programs; George Da Pont, President; Martine Dubuc, Vice-President, Science, Chief Food Safety Officer for Canada; Paul Mayers, Associate Vice-President, Policy and Programs.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, October 23, 2012 and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill S-11, An Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed.

The Minister made a statement and, with Neil Bouwer and George Da Pont, answered questions.

At 9:56 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:02 a.m., the sitting resumed.

George Da Pont made a statement and, with Neil Bouwer and Paul Mayers, answered questions.

At 10:43 a.m., by unanimous consent and pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the Committee continue to sit.

At 10:45 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:46 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to its study of Bill S-11, An Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed, the meetings of Tuesday, October 30 and Thursday, November 1, 2012 be devoted to hearing from witnesses.

It was agreed, — That the Committee undertake a study of the subject matter of Part 4 Division 19 (Canada Grains Act) of Bill C-45, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures; and that one meeting, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., be devoted to hearing from witnesses.

At 10:49 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

David-Andrés Novoa
Clerk of the Committee

2012/11/02 11:45 a.m.