Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue No. 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of March 14, 2016

MONCTON, Monday, March 14, 2016
(10)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 9 a.m., in Rendez-Vous 1, Sheraton Moncton, the chair, the Honourable Ghislain Maltais, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Day, Hubley, Maltais, McIntyre, Mercer, Mockler, Oh and Poirier (8).

In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly and Daniele Lafrance, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, January 28, 2016, the committee continued its study on international market access priorities for the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Government of Prince Edward Island:

Alan McIsaac, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries;

John Jamieson, Deputy Minister, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Government of New Brunswick:

Cathy LaRochelle, Assistant Deputy Minister for Industry Programs and Policy, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries;

Shirley Stuible, Director of Policy and Economic Analysis, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Keith Deering, Assistant Deputy Minister Agrifoods, Forestry and Agrifoods Agency.

Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick:

Paul Gaunce, Chairman;

Richard vanOord, Vice-Chair.

Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia:

John Vissers, National Director;

Brian Cameron, General Manager.

Atlantic Food & Beverage Processors Association:

Greg Fash, Executive Director.

Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick:

Mike Slocum, Director and Treasure.

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture:

Victor Oulton, Director.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. McIsaac, Mr. Deering and Ms. LaRochelle made statements and, together with Mr. Jamieson and Ms. Stuible, answered questions.

At 10:01 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:11 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Vissers and Mr. Gaunce made statements and, together with Mr. Cameron and Mr. vanOord, answered questions.

At 12:25 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:31 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Fash made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:40 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:55 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Slocum and Mr. Oulton made statements and answered questions.

At 4:06 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee