Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue No. 34 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of October 5, 2017

MONTREAL, Thursday, October 5, 2017
(70)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8:31 a.m., in Studio 5 & 6, W Montreal Hotel, the deputy chair, the Honourable Terry M. Mercer, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Dagenais, Doyle, Mercer, Oh and Tardif (6).

In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Jade Lepage-Thériault, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 9, 2017, the committee continued its study on the potential impact of the effects of climate change on the agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 26.)

WITNESSES:

FPInnovations:

Pierre Lapointe, President and CEO;

Jean-Pierre Martel, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships;

Patrick Lavoie, Senior Scientist;

Richard Hamelin, Researcher.

Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec:

Marc-André Côté, Director General;

Marc-André Rhéaume, Responsible for forest management.

Union des producteurs agricoles:

Marcel Groleau, President General;

Daniel Bernier, Agronomist, Research and agricultural policy department.

Producteurs de grains du Québec:

Benoit Legault, Director General.

Équiterre:

Sidney Ribaux, Co-founder and General Manager;

Claire Bolduc, Member of the board of directors.

Ouranos:

Caroline Larrivée, Team Leader, Vulnerabilities, impacts and adaptation.

Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science:

Andrew Gonzalez, Director.

COOP Carbone:

Jean Nolet, President and Chief Executive Officer.

The deputy chair made a statement.

Mr. Lapointe made a statement and, together with Mr. Martel, Mr. Lavoie and Mr. Hamelin, answered questions.

At 9:33 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:42 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Côté made a statement and, together with Mr. Rhéaume, answered questions.

At 10:33 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:44 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Groleau, Mr. Legault and Mr. Bernier made statements and answered questions.

At 12:02 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:18 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Nolet, Mr. Ribaux, Ms. Bolduc and Ms. Larrivée made statements and answered questions.

At 2:53 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee