Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue No. 20 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of November 29, 2016

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 29, 2016
(38)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 4 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Ghislain Maltais, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Dagenais, Gagné, Maltais, Mercer, Merchant, Ogilvie, Oh, Plett, Pratte and Tardif (11).

In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly, Analyst, 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 November 24, 2016, the committee began its study on the current situation involving the bovine tuberculosis outbreak in southeastern Alberta, the quarantine that farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan are under, and the movement controls in place for cattle.

WITNESSES:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Rosser Lloyd, Director General, Business Risk Management Programs Directorate, Programs Branch.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, PhD, Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada and Associate Vice-President, Operations Branch.

The chair made a statement.

Dr. Kochhar made a statement and, together with Mr. Lloyd, answered questions.

At 4:55 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5 p.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2016, the committee continued its study on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 17.)

WITNESSES:

Government of Manitoba:

The Honourable Ralph Eichler, Minister of Agriculture (by video conference);

Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture (by video conference);

Patty Rosher, Director, Boards and Commissions (by video conference).

Government of Alberta:

The Honourable Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (by video conference);

Bev Yee, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (by video conference);

Tony Clark, Chief of Staff, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (by video conference);

Darren Chase, Executive Director, Policy, Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (by video conference).

Government of British Columbia:

The Honourable Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture (by video conference);

Derek Sturko, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture (by video conference).

The chair made a statement.

Minister Eichler made a statement and, together with Ms. Gindera-Beauchemin and Ms. Rosher, answered questions.

At 5:40 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:57 p.m., the committee resumed.

The chair made a statement.

Minister Letnick and Minister Carlier made statements and, together with Mr. Sturko and Mr. Chase, answered questions.

At 7:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee