Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 22, 1996
(9)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 3:20 p.m. this day, in Room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chairman, the Honourable Senator Leonard Gustafson, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Hays, Rossiter, Spivak and Taylor. (5)

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Jean-Denis Fréchette and June Dewetering, Research Officers; Media Relations Officer to the committee, Barbara Robson.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to its order of reference to study the present state and future of agriculture in Canada and to study the present state and future of forestry in Canada.

The itinerary of the Fact Finding Mission to the Prairie Provinces to study the boreal forest was discussed.

After discussion, it was agreed, --

THAT, a working lunch on November 8 be authorized;

THAT, a meeting with the Canadian Wheat Board be added to the end of the itinerary and that the researchers to the committee be authorized to join the delegation in Winnipeg for that meeting; and

THAT, Honourable Senators on the committee but not on the Boreal Forest delegation, be invited to join the delegation for the meeting with the Canadian Wheat Board.

Barbara Robson, Media Relations Officer for the Boreal Forest study, presented a backgrounder, press release and media relations plan for the study.

After discussion, it was agreed, --

THAT the backgrounder and press release be amended under the direction of the Chair to reflect the proper respective jurisdiction and powers of the federal and provincial governments regarding the issue of forestry; and

THAT the distribution list for the press release be amended to remove commercial news wire services which charge for their services.

The future business of the Committee was examined.

After discussion, it was agreed, --

THAT the Fact Finding Mission to Washington, D.C. be timed for early March;

THAT the researchers provide data on the effect of freight rates on shipping of grain in Canada; and

THAT hearings on the Boreal Forest issue be scheduled for Mondays to provide maximum time availability.

At 4:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA. Thursday, November 28, 1996
(10)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 9:30 a.m. this day, in Room 505, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable Senator Leonard Gustafson, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Rossiter, Sparrow and St. Germain. (4)

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Jean-Denis Fréchette and June Dewetering, Research Officers.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to its order of reference to study the present state and future of forestry in Canada, consideration of the Fact Finding Mission on the Boreal Forest in the Prairie Provinces.

Senator Gustafson briefed the committee on the November 3 to 11, 1996 Fact Finding Mission on the Boreal Forest in the Prairie Provinces. Senator Anderson and Senator Spivak added to the account. After discussion, the committee agreed to ask the Library of Parliament for further research assistance on the Boreal Forest. Senator Spivak outlined factual information required by the committee and asked that it be referred to the researcher.

The committee discussed its schedule and agreed that the Subcommittee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to schedule forestry witnesses early in 1997 and to decide on the itinerary for the trip to Washington, D.C.

A wide ranging and informal discussion of forestry and agricultural issues was held.

At 10:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Blair Armitage

Clerk of the Committee