Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 16, 2004
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day, at 6:15 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Gill, Gustafson, Hubley, Mahovlich, Mercer, Ringuette, Sparrow and Tkachuk (10).
In attendance: Frédéric Forge and Marc Leblanc, Research Branch of the Library of Parliament:
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 resumed its consideration of the present state and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada. (See Issue No. 1, Tuesday, October 19, 2004, for full text of the Order of Reference.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Andrew Mitchell, P.C., M.P., Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
WITNESSES:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:
Leonard Edwards, Deputy Minister.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Richard Fadden, President.
The Honourable Andrew Mitchell made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 18, 2004
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met in camera this day, at 8:00 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hubley, Mahovlich, Mercer, Oliver, Ringuette, Robichaud, P.C., and Tkachuk (9).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Callbeck (1).
In attendance: Frédéric Forge and Marc Leblanc, Research Branch of the Library of Parliament.
The committee proceeded to study its future agenda.
The Chair informed the members that the draft report on Value-added has been distributed to all of them and it was agreed that a meeting be scheduled for Thursday, November 25 to discuss it.
The Chair informed the members that, on the topic of Softwood Lumber and the World Trade Organization negotiations, a meeting will be held Tuesday, November 30 with the Honourable Jim Peterson, Minister of Trade.
It was agreed that, on the topic of Grain Marketing (crop insurance, hopper cars fleet), a meeting be organized for the week of December 6 and that the witnesses be: Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission, and Mr. Murray Downing (Grassroots Producers of Manitoba).
It was agreed that, on the topic of the BSE strategy (increasing the Ruminant Slaughter Capacity in Canada), the committee organize two or three meetings before Christmas break preferably with the Minister or Officials of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, the Canadian Bankers Association and the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk that the following budget on the Special Study on Value-added be adopted and that the Chair present it to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budget and Administration:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 8,400 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 1,000 |
| All other expenditures | $ 1,300 |
| Total: | $10,700 |
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Robichaud that the following budget on the Special Study on the present state and the future of Agriculture and Forestry in Canada be adopted and that the Chair present it to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budget and Administration:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 19,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 73,988 |
| All other expenditures | $ 3,560 |
| Total: | $ 97,048 |
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee