THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 12, 2026
(24)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Mary Robinson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black, Burey, Greenwood, Martin, McNair, Muggli, Robinson and Sorensen (8).
Participating in the meeting: Joanne Markle LaMontagne, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the committee continued its study on the role of the agriculture and agri-food sector with regard to food security in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Competition Bureau Canada:
Mike Hollingworth, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Competition Promotion Branch;
Melissa Fisher, Deputy Commissioner, Mergers Directorate.
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council:
Jennifer Wright, Executive Director.
Canadian Federation of Agriculture:
Scott Ross, Executive Director.
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada:
Catherine Lessard, Chair, Business Risk Management Working Group;
Mike Chromczak, Vice-Chair, Business Risk Management Working Group.
Mike Hollingworth made a statement and, together with Melissa Fisher, answered questions.
At 8:50 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:57 a.m., the committee resumed.
Jennifer Wright, Scott Ross, Catherine Lessard and Mike Chromczak each made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:01 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Caroline Woodward
Clerk of the Committee