Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue No. 25 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of March 7, 2017

OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 7, 2017
(49)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 5:14 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Ghislain Maltais, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Dagenais, Gagné, Maltais, Mercer, Merchant, Ogilvie, Pratte, Tardif, Tkachuk and Woo (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 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 (by video conference):

National Farmers' Federation (Australia):

Tony Mahar, Chief Executive Officer.

Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako:

Mark Parker, Area D Director and Chair of the Agriculture Committee;

Gerry Thiessen, Municipal Director.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Mahar made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:58 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:02 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Parker and Mr. Thiessen made statements and answered questions.

At 6:45 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:47 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

At 7:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:07 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:

That the following budget application (on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

GENERAL EXPENSES	$ 0
ACTIVITY 1: Washington D.C.	94,781
TOTAL	$ 94,781

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

At 7:08 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee