Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 17 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of October 9, 2014

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 9, 2014
(38)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dagenais, Maltais, Mockler, Ogilvie, Oh, Robichaud, P.C., Seth, Tardif and Unger (10).

In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly and Jed Chong, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Mona Ishack, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 21, 2013, the committee continued its consideration of the importance of bees and bee health in the production of honey, food and seed in Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Health Canada:

Scott Kirby, Director, Environmental Assessment Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency;

Margherita Conti, Director General, Value Assessment and Re-evaluation Management Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Frédéric Seppey, Chief Agriculture Negotiator and Director General, Trade Agreements and Negotiations Directorate, Market and Industry Services Branch.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Dr. Ian Alexander, Executive Director, Animal Health Science Directorate.

Mr. Kirby, Ms. Conti, Mr. Seppey and Mr. Alexander made opening statements and, together, answered questions.

At 9:48 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:51 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.

It was moved:

That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on international market access priorities for the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector. The study will focus on:

a) the expectations and concerns of stakeholders from the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector;

b) sustainable improvements to the production capabilities of the supply chain;

c) diversity, food security and traceability; and

d) the competitiveness and profitability of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector (including producers and processors).

That the Committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2015 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 10:08 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee