AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 8-53, 131 Queen Street, the Chair, Bev Shipley, presiding.

On motion of Bob Zimmer, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

On motion of LaVar Payne, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and composed of the Chair, one (1) member of the New Democratic party, one (1) member of the Liberal party and two (2) members of the Conservative party.

On motion of Ruth Ellen Brosseau, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings and to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one of the government.

On motion of Malcolm Allen, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee and only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

On motion of Bob Zimmer, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

On motion of Earl Dreeshen, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Randy Hoback, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one (1) staff person at an in camera meeting. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) party staff member attend in camera meetings.

On motion of LaVar Payne, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee or by their staff.

On motion of Randy Hoback, it was agreed, — That a notice of 48 hours, interpreted as two nights, be required before a member may move a substantive motion, unless it deals directly with the matter before the Committee at this time, provided that: (a) this notice be emailed to the Committee Clerk no later than 4: 00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) that the notice be distributed by e-mail to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) that notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and (d) that this rule does not prevent a member from giving notice of a motion orally during a meeting of the Committee, in which case notice shall be deemed to have been given before the deadline that day.

On motion of LaVar Payne, it was agreed, — That witnesses shall be allowed up to ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated five (5) minutes for the first two rounds of questioning, and that subsequent rounds of questioning be at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Bob Zimmer, it was agreed, — That the order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: New Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals. Questioning during the second round shall be as follows: Conservatives, New Democrats, Conservatives, New Democrats, Conservatives, New Democrats, Conservatives and Conservatives. Based on the principle that each committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witnesses. If time permits, further rounds shall be at the discretion of the Chair.

Bob Zimmer moved, — That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,

(a) the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider;

(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and

(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Earl Dreeshen, Mark Eyking, Richard M. Harris, Randy Hoback, Pierre Lemieux, LaVar Payne, Bob Zimmer — 7; NAYS: Malcolm Allen, Alex Atamanenko, Ruth Ellen Brosseau, Francine Raynault — 4.

On motion of LaVar Payne, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera .

At 4:41 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:42 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Committee undertake a study of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the effects of it on the Canadian agriculture sector.

At 5:11 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.