AGRI Committee Report
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Thursday, November 23, 2006
(Meeting No. 30)
The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Gerry Ritz, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: David Anderson, Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, James Bezan, Ken Boshcoff, Hon. Wayne Easter, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller, Gerry Ritz, Jean-Yves Roy, Paul Steckle and Hon. Robert Thibault.
Acting Members present: Hon. Charles Hubbard for Paul Steckle and Brent St. Denis for Paul Steckle.
Associate Members present: Barry Devolin.
In attendance: Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge, Analyst; Jean-Denis Fréchette, Principal.
Witnesses: Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec: Lise Grenier-Audet, Vice-President. Olymel: Paul Beauchamp, Principal Vice-President, Supply and Corporate Affairs. Maple Leaf Foods Inc.: Don Davidson, Vice-President, Business Development, Government and Industry Relations; Rory McAlpine, Vice-President, Government and Industry Relations. Canadian Pork Council: Clare Schlegel, President; Martin Rice, Executive Director; Jean-Guy Vincent, Second Vice-President.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to a briefing on Pork Issues.
The witnesses made statements and answered questions.
At 1:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 1:12 p.m., the sitting resumed in-camera.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of the draft report on the Canadian Grain Commission.
It was agreed, — That the draft report on the Canadian Grain Commission be adopted.
It was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.
It was agreed, — That the Chair, Clerk and analyst be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.
At 1:33 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 1:37 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
Wayne Easter moved, — That the 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.
And that the Chair of the Committee reports the motion to the House.
The Chair ruled the proposed motion inadmissible on legal grounds
Whereupon, Charles Hubbard appealed the decision of the Chair.
The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division: YEAS: David Anderson, James Bezan, Jacques Gourde, Larry Miller — 4; NAYS: Alex Atamanenko, André Bellavance, Ken Boshcoff, Wayne Easter, Charles Hubbard, Robert Thibault — 6.
The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.
At 1:47 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Jean-François Lafleur
Clerk of the Committee