Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 7, 2004
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day in room 705, Victoria Building, at 8:35 a.m., for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Hubley, Mercer, Oliver and Tkachuk (6).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Oliver that the Honourable Senator Fairbairn be Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Callbeck that the Honourable Senator Gustafson, in abstentia, be Deputy Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Callbeck that, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and a representative from the opposition are present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Oliver that the committee adopt the draft first report prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research analysts to the committee;
That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Callbeck:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley that the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee; and
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on ``official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Oliver that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Tkatchuk:
That the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair informed the committee that the time slots for its meetings are when the Senate rises but not before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8:30 a.m. on Thursdays.
It was agreed, that when possible, the committee will favour Tuesdays over Thursdays.
A discussion of issues related to the mandates of the committee followed.
It was agreed that the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to examine the following Order of Reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine the issues related to the development and marketing of value-added agricultural, agri-food and forest products, on the domestic and international markets;
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the Third Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 23, 2005, and that the committee retain until January 31, 2006 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
It was agreed that the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to examine the following Order of Reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to hear from time to time witnesses, including both individuals and representatives from organizations, on the present state and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada.
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the Third Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 23, 2005, and that the committee retain until January 31, 2006 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
It was agreed that the Minister of Agriculture as well as the Minister of Trade or the Minister of Natural Resources be invited to update the members of the Committee on the following subjects: softwood lumber, BSE, profit of meat packers and potato wart in P.E.I.
At 9:05 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 28, 2004
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:05 a.m., this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, the Honourable Leonard Gustafson, Deputy Chair, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Gill, Gustafson, Hubley, Mahovlich, Mercer, Oliver and Ringuette (8).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Frédéric Forge and Marc Leblanc
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 the committee began its consideration of the present state and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada.
WITNESSES:
As a panel:
Canadian Federation of Agriculture:
Bob Friesen, President.
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan:
Terry Hildebrandt, President.
Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture:
Robert MacDonald, President.
Canadian Sugar Beet Producers'Association:
Bruce Webster, General Manager.
The Deputy Chair made an opening statement in which he wishes prompt recovery and all the best to Senator Fairbairn, the Chair of the Committee, who is presently recovering at home from an illness.
Mr. Friesen, Mr. Hildebrandt, Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Webster each made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:10 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee