Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue 23 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of February 3, 2015

OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 3, 2015
(52)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 5:05 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais, Enverga, Maltais, Moore, Ogilvie, Oh, Plett, Tardif and Unger (9).

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

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

The clerk informed the committee of the unavoidable absences of the chair and deputy chair and presided over the election of an acting chair.

The Honourable Senator Tardif moved:

That the Honourable Senator Maltais be the acting chair.

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

The acting chair took the chair.

At 5:08 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-18, An Act to amend certain Acts relating to agriculture and agri-food. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 22.)

WITNESSES:

Western Canadian Wheat Growers' Association:

Jim Wickett, Chair.

Canadian Horticultural Council:

Deb Hart, Seed Potato Subcommittee.

Canterra Seeds:

Erin Armstrong, Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs.

Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers:

Delaney Ross Burtnack, President and CEO (by video conference).

Partners in Innovation Coalition:

David Jones, Member.

Grain Farmers of Ontario:

Henry Van Akum, Chair.

Food Secure Canada:

Diana Bronson, Executive Director;

Pat Mooney, Member.

As an individual:

Devlin Kuyek.

National Farmers' Union:

Terry Boehm, Chair, Seed and Trade Committee (by video conference).

Mr. Wickett, Ms. Hart and Ms. Armstrong made statements and answered questions.

At 6:07 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:13 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Ross Burtnack, Mr. Jones and Mr. Van Akum made statements and answered questions.

At 7 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:04 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Bronson, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Kuyek and Mr. Boehm made statements and answered questions.

At 8:11 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee