AGRI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met in camera at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Gerry Ritz, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 12:22 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:28 p.m., the sitting resumed.

At 12:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:31 p.m., the sitting resumed in-public.

Wayne Easter moved, — Building upon the Minister of Agriculture's indication that a plebiscite on barley will be held, this Committee recommends;

1. That the Minister of Agriculture shall hold, pursuant to section 47.1 of the Canadian Wheat Board Act, a plebiscite with respect to the future of the Canadian Wheat Board on the following questions: Farmers shall be asked:

For wheat:

A) I wish to maintain the ability to market all wheat, with the continuing exception of feed wheat sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system

B) I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all wheat through an open market system.

For barley:

C) I wish to maintain the ability to market all barley, with the continuing exception of feed barley sold domestically, through the CWB single desk system

D) I wish to remove the single desk marketing system from the CWB and sell all barley through an open market system.

2. Voter eligibility for the plebiscite shall be the same as that outlined in the CWB Act and regulations for CWB Director elections, with the voter list based on the 2005-06 list of CWB permit book holders.

That the Chair Report the Motion to House .

Debate arose thereon.

The Chair ruled the proposed motion inadmissible because under the Canadian Wheat Board Act, it is under the purview of the minister to develop the questions and the voters list .

By unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

At 12:53 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.