THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 7, 2024
(88)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 9 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Robert Black, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black, Burey, Marshall, McBean, McNair, Oudar, Petitclerc, Richards, Simons, Sorensen and White (11).

Participating in the meeting: Joanne Markle LaMontagne, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2024, the committee continued its study on the growing issue of wildfires in Canada and the consequential effects that wildfires have on forestry and agriculture industries, as well as rural and Indigenous communities, throughout the country.

WITNESSES:

Forest Products Association of Canada:

Eric Johnson, Vice-President, Government Relations;

Étienne Bélanger, Vice-President, Indigenous Relations and Forestry.

Canadian Forest Owners:

Andrew de Vries, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).

PRT Growing Services Ltd.:

Randy Fournier, Chief Executive Officer.

Little Red River Cree Nation:

Conroy Sewepagaham, Chief.

K'ahsho Got'ine Charter Community, Fort Good Hope Dene Band:

Collin Pierrot, Chief.

K'ahsho Got'ine Foundation:

Darcy Edgi, President.

Eric Johnson, Andrew de Vries and Randy Fournier each made a statement and, together with Étienne Bélanger, answered questions.

At 10:03 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:07 a.m., the committee resumed.

Chief Conroy Sewepagaham and Chief Collin Pierrot each made a statement and, together with Darcy Edgi, answered questions.

At 11 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Raymond St. Martin

Clerk of the Committee