Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 15, 2007
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day in room 705, Victoria Building, at 9:10 a.m., for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Peterson and St. Germain, P.C. (7).
In attendance: Frédéric Forge, 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 rule 88, the clerk presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Gustafson moved that the Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C. be chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C. assumed the chair and made opening remarks.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved that the Honourable Senator Gustafson be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C.:
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 Peterson:
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 St. Germain, P.C.:
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 St. Germain, P.C.:
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 Callbeck:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign 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, directs 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 Peterson:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 Gustfason:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator St. Germain 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 Callbeck:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable traveling 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 Peterson:
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.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C.:
That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
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 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8:00 a.m. on Thursdays.
It was agreed that whenever possible the committee meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.
At 9:34 a.m., in accordance with rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera, to consider it's agenda (future business).
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 and report, on the present state and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada.
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished during the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2008.
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 and report on rural poverty in Canada. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to:
(a) examine the dimension and depth of rural poverty in Canada;
(b) conduct an assessment of Canada's comparative standing in this area, relative to other OECD countries;
(c) examine the key drivers of reduced opportunity for rural Canadians;
(d) provide recommendations for measures mitigating rural poverty and reduced opportunity for rural Canadians; and
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished during the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2008; and
That the committee retain until September 30, 2008 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
At 10:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 22, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:08 a.m., this day, in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich and Peterson (5).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Frédéric Forge, 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, November 20, 2007 the committee began its consideration of the present and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Cattlemen's Association:
Hugh Lynch-Staunton, President;
John Masswohl, Director of Government & International Relations.
Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec:
Michel Dessureault, President;
Vincent Cloutier, Assistant Secretary.
The chair made an opening statement.
Messrs. Lynch-Staunton and Dessureault each made a statement and, together with Mr. Masswohl, answered questions.
At 10:11 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 27, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 7:02 p.m., this day, in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich and Peterson (5).
In attendance: Marc Leblanc and Fréderic Forge, 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, November 20, 2007 the committee continued its consideration of the present and the future of agriculture and forestry in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Federation of Agriculture:
Bob Friesen, President.
Canadian Pork Council:
Clare Schlegel, President;
Stephen Moffett, Chair, Canadian Pork Council Safety Net Committee.
Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec:
Robert Monty, Second Vice-President.
The chair made an opening statement.
Messrs. Moffett, Monty and Friesen each made a statement and, together with Mr. Schlegel, answered questions.
At 8:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 29, 2007
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 8:03 a.m., this day, in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Callbeck, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Mahovlich, Peterson, Segal, St. Germain, P.C., and Zimmer. (9).
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, November 20, 2007 the committee began its consideration of rural poverty in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Hatching Egg Producers:
Gyslain Loyer, Chair.
Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency:
Wayne Kroeker, Vice-chair.
Dairy Farmers of Canada:
Jacques Laforge, Chair.
Chicken Farmers of Canada:
Mike Dungate, General Manager.
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency:
Laurent Souligny, Chair.
The chair made an opening statement.
Messrs. Souligny and Loyer each made a statement and, together with Messrs. Kroeker, Laforge, Dungate, answered questions.
At 9:24 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:31 a.m., the committee resumed.
At 9:31 a.m., in accordance with rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider its agenda (future business).
An Honourable Senator moved:
That the committee seek the necessary authority and funding a trip to Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit in early 2008.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Baker, P.C., Callbeck, Mahovlich, Peterson, Zimmer—5
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Gustafson, Segal—2
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senator
St. Germain, P.C.—1
It was agreed that the committee travel the week of February 18-22, 2008.
At 10:08 a.m., the committee resumed its proceedings in public and proceeded to the consideration of draft budgets.
The Honourable Senator Segal moved:
That the legislative budget application in the amount of $ 4,250 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services $ 2,250 Transportation and Communications $ 1,000 All Other Expenditures $ 1,000 TOTAL $ 4,250
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved:
That the special study budget application (present state and future of agriculture) in the amount of $ 9,050 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services $ 6,750 Transportation and Communications $ 1,000 All Other Expenditures $ 1,300 TOTAL $ 9,050
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Peterson moved:
That the special study budget application (study on rural poverty) in the amount of $ 318,131 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services $ 60,500 Transportation and Communications $ 220,831 All Other Expenditures $ 36,800 TOTAL $ 318,131
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on division.
At 10:13 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the committee