AGRI Committee Report

RECOMMENDATION 1

That the Minister of Industry instruct the Commissioner of Competition, under section 10 of the Competition Act, to conduct immediately an inquiry into the pricing of slaughter cattle and beef at the wholesale level.

RECOMMENDATION 2

That the Competition Bureau monitor the wholesale and retail pricing of beef, as well as the fed and feeder cattle prices, and that the Commissioner of Competition report periodically, or at the call of the Chair, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

RECOMMENDATION 3

That the Government of Canada engage an independent body to conduct a comprehensive study of the competitive aspects of the cattle and beef products industry in Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 4

That the Government of Canada and its agencies involved in the agri-food sector work with livestock producers and processors to find new business opportunities in the livestock processing sector, with a particular emphasis on increasing livestock slaughter and value-added products processing capacity.

RECOMMENDATION 5

That the Governments of Canada and the United States immediately implement the World Organisation for Animal Health Code and repeal both countries’ import embargoes, while continuing to negotiate other modalities of an implementation plan that would improve the free flow of livestock and meat.