Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 20 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 21, 2012

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 21, 2012
(40)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 7:56 a.m., in Room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buth, Mahovlich, Maltais, Mercer, Mockler, Peterson, Plett, Rivard, Robichaud, P.C., and Seth (10).

In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly and Sonia Norris, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-11, an Act respecting food commodities, including their inspection, their safety, their labelling and advertising, their import, export and interprovincial trade, the establishment of standards for them, the registration or licensing of persons who perform certain activities related to them, the establishment of standards governing establishments where those activities are performed and the registration of establishments where those activities are performed.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, M.P., P.C., Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.

WITNESSES:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

George Da Pont, President;

Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Food Safety Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada;

Neil Bouwer, Vice-President, Policy and Programs;

Colleen Barnes, Executive Director, Domestic Policy Directorate.

The Minister made an opening statement and, together with Mr. Da Pont and Dr. Evans, answered questions.

At 9:03 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:10 a.m., the committee resumed.

Dr. Evans, Mr. Bouwer and Ms. Barnes each made opening statements and answered questions.

At 10:06 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee