Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 20 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 9, 2003
(36)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met in camera at 8:32 a.m., this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, the Deputy Chair, the Honourable Jack Wiebe, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Day, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hubley, LaPierre and Wiebe (7).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 31, 2002, the committee continued 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.)

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee proceeded in camera for the consideration of its draft report.

It was agreed, — That the introduction of the final report would include the recent weather patterns of this past summer.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee would distribute the revised draft report once completed, to members of the committee.

At 9:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 21, 2003
(37)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 6:07 p.m., this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hubley, Oliver, Tkachuk and Wiebe (6).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marc Leblanc and Jean-Denis Fréchette.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 11, 2003, the committee continued to consider issues related to the development and domestic and international marketing of value-added agricultural, agri-food and forest products. (For a complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 18.)

WITNESSES:

From the National Farm Products Council:

Cynthia Currie, Chairperson;

Ron O'Connor, Vice-Chairman.

From the Canadian Wheat Board:

Ken Ritter, Chair;

Bill Nicholson, Director;

Jim Thompson, Senior Marketing Manager.

The Chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Currie made a presentation.

Ms. Currie and Mr. O'Connor answered questions.

Mr. Ritter made a presentation.

Mr. Ritter, Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Thompson answered questions.

At 8:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 23, 2003
(38)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:32 a.m., this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Day, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hubley, LaPierre, Oliver, Ringuette and Wiebe (9).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Marc Leblanc and Frédéric Forge.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 11, 2003, the committee continued to consider issues related to the development and domestic and international marketing of value-added agricultural, agri-food and forest products. (For a complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 18.)

WITNESSES:

From the Internal Trade Secretariat:

Lorraine Andras, Acting Executive Director.

From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Debra Bryanton, Executive Director, Food Safety;

Paul Haddow, Executive Director, International Affairs.

From Agriculture and Agri-food Canada:

Ian Thomson, Director, Western Hemisphere, Trade Policy Division;

Steve Verheul, Chief Agriculture Negotiator;

Eric Johannsen, Chief, Marketing Policy.

The Chair made an opening statement.

Ms. Andras made a presentation and answered questions.

Mr. Thomson and Ms. Bryanton made opening remarks, and with Mr. Verheul and Mr. Haddow, answered questions.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), at 10:15 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera for the purpose of consideration of its draft interim report.

It was agreed, — That the Hartwell Group be hired to provide communication support for the release of the final report.

It was agreed, — That the final report be entitled: ``Climate Change, We Are At Risk.''

It was agreed, — That the Chair and Deputy Chair be empowered to make editorial and grammatical changes including the finalization of the biography section without changing the content.

It was agreed, — That the final report be tabled during the week of November 4, 2003.

At 10:20 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Keli Hogan

Acting Clerk of the Committee