Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry

Issue No. 56 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of October 4, 2018

OTTAWA, Thursday, October 4, 2018
(116)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Diane F. Griffin, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black (Ontario), Dagenais, Doyle, Gagné, Griffin, Maltais, Mercer, Oh and Woo (9).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne (1).

In attendance: Corentin Bialais and Offah Obale, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Síofra McAllister, 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, February 15, 2018, the committee continued its study on how the value-added food sector can be more competitive in global markets. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 47.)

Topic: Temporary Foreign Worker Program

WITNESSES:

Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association:

Ryan Koeslag, Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer.

HyLife:

Baerbel Langner, Legal Counsel-Immigration, Past Chair, Canadian Bar Association, National Immigration Section.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers:

Justine Taylor, Science and Government Relations Manager.

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Steven West, Director, Sector Policy, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Skills and Employment Branch.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Natasha Kim, Director General, Immigration Branch;

Helene Panagakos, Director, Temporary Resident Program Division, Immigration Program Guidance.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:

Tom Rosser, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch;

Marco Valicenti, Director General, Sector Development and Analysis Directorate, Market and Industry Services Branch.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Koeslag, Ms. Langner and Ms. Taylor made statements and answered questions.

At 9 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:05 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. West, Ms. Kim and Mr. Rosser made statements and, together with Ms. Panagakos and Mr. Valicenti, answered questions.

At 9:52 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:55 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

At 10:18 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman
Clerk of the Committee