Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 11 - Minutes of Proceedings

LETHBRIDGE, Wednesday, February 26, 2003
(19)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day in the Aspen Ballroom, the Lethbridge Lodge Hotel and Conference Centre, at 1:30 p.m., the Chair, the Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, Gustafson, Hubley, LaPierre, Oliver, Tkachuk and Wiebe (7).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge; Keli Hogan and Nicole Bédard from the Senate Committees and Private Legislation Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 31, 2002, the committee began to consider the impact of climate change on Canada's agriculture, forests and rural communities and the potential adaptation options focusing on primary production, practices, technologies, ecosystems and other related areas. (For a complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

From the University of Lethbridge:

Mr. James Byrne, Professor.

From the Federation of Alberta Naturalists:

Ms. Cheryl Bradley.

From the Canadian Sugar Beet Producers' Association:

Mr. Gary Tokariuk, Vice-President.

From the Blood Indian Tribe:

Mr. Chris Shade, Chief;

Mr. Andy Blackwater, Elder;

Mr. Eugene Creighton, Legal Council;

Mr. Elliot Fox, Chair of Lands;

Mr. Rob First Rider, Director of Management of Lands.

From Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre:

Mr. Peter Burnett, Director;

Mr. Henry Janzen, Soil Scientist;

Mr. Sean McGinn, Research Scientist.

The Chair made an opening statement.

James Byrne made a presentation.

At 1:34 p.m., Senator Wiebe assumed the Chair.

At 1:42 p.m., Senator Oliver returned to the Chair.

James Byrne answered questions.

Cheryl Bradley made a presentation and answered questions.

At 2:48 p.m., Senator Wiebe assumed the Chair.

At 2:56 p.m., Senator Oliver returned to the Chair.

Gary Tokariuk made a presentation and answered questions.

Chris Shade made a presentation and answered questions with Elliot Fox, Eugene Creighton and Andy Blackwater.

The committee recessed at 4:26 p.m.

The committee resumed at 4:36 p.m.

Henry Janzen and Sean McGinn made presentations and answered questions with Peter Burnett.

At 5:54 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee