Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 19 - Minutes of Proceedings
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Monday, March 5, 2007
(47)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 9:05 a.m., this day, in room 7-172, in the Bentley Centre, Prince George, British Columbia, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (5).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 6.)
WITNESSES:
University of Northern British Columbia:
Greg Halseth, Professor, Geography Program, and Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies;
Catherine Nolin, Assistant Professor, Geography Program.
BC Healthy Communities:
Theresa Healy, Facilitator, Northern Region, BC Healthy Communities, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Gender Studies and the School of Environmental Planning University of Northern British Columbia.
Prince George Council of Seniors:
Paz M. Milburn, Manager.
Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George:
Baljit Sethi, Executive Director.
New Focus Society:
Sharron Hill, Executive Director.
BC Breeders & Feeders Association:
Brian Hill, President.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Halseth made a statement and answered questions.
Ms. Healy made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:20 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:47 a.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Nolin, Ms. Milburn and Ms. Sethi, each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
Ms. Sharon Hill and Mr. Brian Hill, each made a statement and together answered questions.
At 12:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Monday, March 5, 2007
(48)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 1:31 p.m., this day, in room 7-172, in the Bentley Centre, Prince George, British Columbia, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (5).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 6.)
WITNESSES:
As an individual:
Denise Dowswell, Little Valley Farms.
Dwaine Patterson, Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union, Local 603.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Dowswell and Mr. Patterson each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 2:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, Tuesday, March 6, 2007
(49)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 6:20 p.m., this day, in the Saddle Room, at the Exhibition Park, Lethbridge, Alberta, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (6).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 6.)
WITNESSES:
Rural Alberta's Development Fund:
Ken Nicol, Director.
Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission:
Lynn Jacobson, President.
National Farmers Union:
Everett Tanis, Member.
South West Alberta Coalition on Poverty:
Stasha Donahue, Co-chair.
Womanspace Resource Centre:
Lisa Lambert, Project Coordinator.
Alberta Women's Institutes:
Darlene Wicks, President Elect.
As an individual:
Paula Shimp.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Nichol, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Tanis each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 7:42 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:55 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Donahue, Ms. Lambert and Ms. Wicks each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
Ms. Shimp made a statement and answered questions.
At 9:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
TABER, ALBERTA, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
(50)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 9:02 a.m., this day, in room C, at the Taber Heritage Inn, Taber, Alberta, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Mercer and Peterson (6).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Marc-André Pigeon, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 the committee continued its consideration of rural poverty in Canada. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 6.)
WITNESSES:
Real Voice for Choice Alberta:
Laurence Nicholson, Co-Chair.
Community Futures Lethbridge Region:
Mark Fournier, Executive Director.
Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies:
Charles Moore, Regional Director, Board of Directors.
Alberta Organic Producers Association:
Victor Chrapko, President.
Alberta Sugar Beet Growers:
David Lauwen, President.
Potato Growers of Alberta:
Jerry Zeinstra, Vice-Chairman;
Mark Miyanaga, Director at Large.
As an individual:
Hank G. Van Beers, Reeve, Division No. 5, Municipal District of Taber.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Fournier and Mr. Moore each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 9:53 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:10 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Chrapko, Mr. Lauwen and Mr. Zeinstra each made a statement and, together with Mr. Miyanaga, answered questions
Mr. Van Beers made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:33 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee