Notes for ministerial appearance

Table of Contents

• Impact of rail blockades on Canadian farmers

  • I recognize that 2019 has been very hard on our farmers, particularly for grain, as a result of bad weather, but also trade disruptions.
  • While it is encouraging to see grain moving again it will take time for backlogs to clear.
  • The Government continues to closely monitor the situation, including the movement of grain and vessel line-ups on the West Coast.
  • The grain industry is a powerful driver for the Canadian economy, and Canadian farmers are known around the world as efficient and reliable suppliers of high quality products.
  • We continue to work with the grain sector, Transport Canada and stakeholders in the grain transport sector to identify ways to improve the grain transportation system.

• Canada seed exports to China

  • Restoring full market access for canola seed to China a priority.
  • While canola seed exports to China continue, working for full access.
  • Engaging on multiple fronts – Ministerial, senior official and technical.
  • Further technical discussions with China in the coming months. 
  • Joint collaboration with canola sector and provinces key to finding a solution to issue.
  • Engaging with sector frequently on issue, including meeting Canadian Canola Growers Association, and Canola Council of Canada February 13 in Manitoba
  • Appreciate active participation by sector and provinces in Government-Industry Canola Working Group, meeting regularly since April 2019.

  Responsive - 2016 MOU for canola seeds

  • Engaging China to determine conditions for exports of canola seeds to China after March 31, 2020.

  Responsive – Market diversification 

  • Following China’s restrictions, Canadian canola seeds exports to China accounted for 19% of Canada’s total canola seeds exports in 2019, compared with 47% in 2018.
  • That said, market diversification efforts have helped the sector increase the export market share to other markets. Between 2018 and 2019, Canada’s share of canola seeds exports increased from 3% to 16% to the European Union; 4% to 9% to the UAE; and 5% to 9% to Pakistan.
  • We recognize that the domestic production of renewable fuels represents an important opportunity for value-added domestic markets for producers. We are committed to support the growth of renewable fuels within Canada.

  Responsive only - WTO consultations

  • WTO consultations between Canada and China took place in October 2019 in Geneva. Consultations provided an opportunity for important face-to-face discussions.
  • Following consultations between Canada and China in October 2019 in Geneva, Canada continues to explore all options in order to restore full market access for Canadian canola seed.
  • Canada is an ardent supporter of the rules-based trading system. Canada's long-standing practice is to use the WTO to seek resolution to trade disputes when necessary, including with our closest trading partners.

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement’s (CUSMA) impact on Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector

  • CUSMA critical to certainty and stability for Canadian agriculture
  • Agreement preserves Canada’s duty-free access into U.S. and Mexico, and safeguards North American regional integration
  • Increases Canadian competitiveness by reducing red tape at the border and lowering trade costs
  • CUSMA provides preferential access to U.S. market for refined sugar and sugar-containing products
  • U.S. tariffs on whey products, peanut butter and margarine will be eliminated 
  • Integrity of Canada’s supply management system preserved 
  • Canada provided limited market access for dairy, poultry and eggs
  • Canada will eliminate milk class 7 after agreement comes into force
  • Canada will monitor exports of limited number of dairy products and impose export charge if exports exceed volume thresholds 
  • Three pillars of supply management maintained, Canada’s dairy industry maintains ability to set milk prices 
  • Government stands by commitment to fully and fairly compensate supply-managed sectors

  Responsive – if asked about Canada’s dairy export thresholds and export charges

  • Outcome was unique response to strong U.S. concerns with respect to exports of a limited number of specific products that are produced under Canada’s dairy supply management system.
  • Do not in any way consider this a precedent and will continue to pursue an ambitious free trade agreement agenda to open new markets and diversify trade.

  Responsive – if asked about grain grading provisions in the CUSMA/Bill C-4

  • CUSMA will not change how Canadian grain is delivered in the primary elevator system in Canada, nor will it affect our grain quality assurance system or the quality of Canadian exports.
  • U.S. producers who deliver grain in Canada will be subject to the same safety and quality rules and regulations as Canadian producers, including variety registration.

  Responsive – if asked Canada’s market access gains for agriculture and agri-food products 

  • The Agreement includes a number of positive outcomes for Canada’s export-oriented agriculture and agri-food sector, including maintaining existing duty-free access for Canadian exports of refined sugar, sugar-containing products and certain dairy products including cheese, cream and butter. 
  • It also eliminates U.S. tariffs on whey products, peanut butter and margarine, and provides a more liberal rule of origin for margarine.

  Comprehensive review of the allocation and administration of tariff rate quotas for dairy, poultry and egg products

  • Supply management is important for our farmers and their families, will always defend them
  • Objective is to create long-term policies to ensure continued efficiency and effectiveness of Canada’s tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for dairy, poultry and egg products
  • Last review took place in the early 1990s
  • Long term policies will comply with international trade obligations and support long-term viability of supply management
  • Inclusive process with two phases (one already complete) of stakeholder consultations involving entities across the entire value chain (for example, processors, distributors, further processors, etc.)
  • Government will consider all feedback received and take into account economic realities of today

  Responsive – if asked about stakeholder consultations

  • Consultative process includes cross-Canada outreach with industry stakeholders in partnership with the provinces
  • Tariff rate quota advisory committees (composed of industry representatives) are being held in addition to meetings with key international trading partners

  Responsive – if asked about draft options published for phase two consultations

  • Feedback from the first phase of consultations informed the development of a range of policy options
  • The options are for further consultation. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback and also alternative options, if desired.

  Responsive – if asked about next steps

  • Officials will review and consider all feedback received throughout the consultative process
  • The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade will decide final policies by summer 2020
  • Final policies and Notices to Importers will be published on September 1, 2020 and be effective for the beginning of the quota year on January 1, 2021

• Canada – European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

  • CETA opens new agriculture and agri-food market opportunities for Canadian exporters in the EU
  • Almost 94% of EU agriculture tariffs duty free under CETA. Canadian exporters now have an advantage over competitors
  • In 2019 agri-food exports were up to 31.9% compared to 2018
  • Government of Canada working with industry to help them take advantage of opportunities arising from CETA

• Trade with Italy

  • Italians have depended on Canadian durum wheat for more than a century.
  • In 2019, Canada was top source of imported durum for Italy (up 200% from drop in 2018).
  • Government of Canada continues to be committed to working with provinces and industry to defend interests of Canadian wheat sector. 
  • Canada continues to raise concerns with Italy and with the European Commission with respect to the Italian country of origin labelling (COOL) measure for pasta.
  • We have been assured by the European Commission that once the voluntary EU-wide country-of-origin labelling measure comes into force on April 1, 2020, country specific measures, such as the Italian COOL measure, will cease to exist. Canada will closely monitor all developments.

• Trade with India

  • Maintaining long-term, sustainable market access to India is a priority.
  • Canada continues to express deep concerns with a number of India’s trade restrictive measures, which have been neither consistent nor transparent. 
  • Working closely with Canadian pulse industry stakeholders. 
  • Continue to press India to remove unjustified barriers to trade and finalize an arrangement on pulse fumigation.
  • Currently considering all available alternatives, including WTO options, to address these issues.

• Pollution pricing and grain drying

  • Pollution pricing part of Canada's plan to transition to a cleaner and more innovative economy that reduces emissions and protects our environment
    • Provinces and territories have the flexibility to develop own carbon pollution pricing system 

  Support to sector:

  • Special provisions for the agricultural sector: emissions from livestock and crop production are not priced, farm fuels and fuels from card lock facilities are exempt, and there is a partial rebate for propane and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses
  • Many producers have accessed the Climate Action Incentive Fund to undertake retrofit projects, and want to ensure this continues
  • Recently announced a cost-shared investment of $2 million for the Alberta Efficient Grain Dryer Program that will help cover the costs for eligible energy efficient grain drying equipment
  • Business Risk Management programs: to help manage significant market volatility and risks beyond their control

  Currently, the federal carbon pollution pricing system applies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nunavut and Yukon.

  Next steps:

  • Received analysis from several grower associations and provinces and we are currently assessing this information
  • Will continue to monitor the situation, and working with colleagues to determine the best path forward

  Responsive: Cost to sector

  • The additional cost from carbon pollution pricing to grain drying cost represents less than 1% of total operating expenses for an average farm.
  • In Ontario, the energy expenses with carbon pollution pricing as a share of total operating income represents less than ██ for grain and oilseed farms on average, and would represent almost ██ for greenhouses without the partial rebate for propane and natural gas.

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership – BRM programs

  • Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, producers continue to have access to a robust suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs to help manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage.
  • The suite of BRM programs are cost-shared with provinces and territories and provide roughly $1.5 billion in annual support. The varying individual needs of farmers mean that different combinations of BRM programs will work for different farms.
  • My provincial counterparts and I have recognized that the risks facing producers have changed and that current programs may need to evolve to meet producers' needs. In December 2019, we provided direction to federal-provincial-territorial officials to begin pursuing improvements to BRM programs.
  • Work under way to improve BRM programming includes:
    • Making short-term adjustments to the AgriStability program to incentivize use of complementary risk management tools and to reduce application burden;
    • Assessing BRM programs' alignment with the objectives laid out by Ministers; and
    • Developing options to make BRM programs more effective, agile, timely, and equitable.
  • My provincial counterparts and I will meet in April to review the assessment of BRM programs and receive an update on officials' progress towards developing options.

  Growing Forward 2 - Summary of FPT program payments

  Federal/provincial contributions, interest costs, payments, premiums and wildlife costs (in $ millions)

  Programs	Program years					Average - GF2	Totals
  	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
  AgriInvest	265.5	267.5	278.7	287.0	290.0	277.7	1,388.7
  AgriStability	311.7	296.8	259.1	503.1	219.3	318.0	1,589.9
  AgriInsurance	1,188.6	942.4	924.0	1,102.2	1,014.4	1,034.3	5,171.6
  AgriRecovery	1.2	4.0	2.2	8.5	20.9	7.4	37.0
  Sub-Totals	1,767.0	1,510.8	1,464.1	1,900.8	1,544.6	1,637.5	8,187.3
  AgriStability Interims - Number	39	117	39	39	25	52	259
  AgriStability Interims - Value	6.0	12.9	3.7	4.2	3.0	6.0	29.9
  Note: Unless otherwise noted, this report contains only program payments. It does not include program expenditures such as administrative costs and other non-payment costs.

  Canadian Agricultural Partnership

  • The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector and increase its competitiveness, prosperity and sustainability.
  • The Partnership also includes programs that help farmers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage.
  • The Government will continue to evaluate programming offered under the Partnership to draw lessons as it looks forward to the negotiation of the next policy framework.

  Program name	Priority area addressed	Funding over 5 years ($)
  AgriScience Program  Science, Research and Innovation priority area	AgriScience – Clusters: supports industry-led and commodity specific science and research projects that address priority themes and horizontal issues, and coordinate research activities across Canada. AgriScience – Projects: supports specific shorter-term science projects to help industry overcome challenges and address fiscal barriers experienced by small and emerging sectors.	338 million
  AgriInnovate Program Science, Research and Innovation priority area	Aims to accelerate the demonstration, commercialization, and/or adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes or services that increase agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability.	128 million
  AgriMarketing Program Markets and Trade priority area	Provides national industry association’s with matching funding to help them address market access issues impacting their sector, and implement market development strategies to develop, maintain, or expand new and existing markets	121 million
  AgriAssurance Program Public Trust priority area	National Industry Association component: Funding provided will assist industry associations develop assurance systems, standards or tools such as food safety, animal and plant health surveillance, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, traceability, etc.  Small and medium-sized enterprises component: Funding provided will assist for-profit organizations obtain third-party certification when it is required to meet an export opportunity.	74 million
  AgriCompetitiveness Program Markets and Trade priority area	Assists industry-led efforts to provide producers with information needed to build capacity and support the sector's development as well as activities to raise agricultural awareness. Projects have been funded with organizations such as 4-H Canada, Farm Management Council and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.	20.5 million
  AgriDiversity  Markets and Trade priority area	Helps under-represented groups in Canadian agriculture, including youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities, to fully participate in the sector.	5 million
  FPT Cost-Shared Programs	Science, Research and Innovation – Helping industry adopt practices to improve resiliency and productivity through research and innovation in key areas. Markets and Trade – Opening new markets and helping farmers and food processors improve their competitiveness through skills development, improved export capacity, underpinned by a strong and efficient regulatory system. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change – Building sector capacity to mitigate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment and adapt to climate change by enhancing sustainable growth, while increasing production. Value-added Agriculture and Agri-food Processing – Supporting the continued growth of the value-added agriculture and agri-food processing sector. Public Trust – Building a firm foundation for public trust in the sector through improved assurance systems in food safety and plant and animal health, stronger traceability and effective regulations. Risk Management – Enabling proactive and effective risk management, mitigation and adaptation to facilitate a resilient sector by working to ensure programs are comprehensive, responsive and accessible.	2 billion

• Advance Payments Program

  • Provides agricultural producers with access to low-interest cash advances. Helps provide marketing flexibility, allowing producers to sell their products based on market conditions rather than the need for cash flow.
  • Made rapid changes in 2019 to the Advance Payments Program by permanently increasing the loan limit from $400,000 to $1 million and providing $500,000 in interest free amounts on advances for canola for the 2019 program year.
  • To date, for the 2019 program year, the APP has issued over $2.9 billion in advances to approximately 21,000 producers, an increase of 27% from 2018.
  • The Government has the authority to implement a stay of default if producers are facing significant challenges repaying their advances and if an APP administrator makes the request. 
  • As it was done with the 2018 advances, a stay of default on 2019 advances could be considered closer to the September 30, 2020, repayment deadline if there is a request from an APP administrator. Currently, there is no indication of impending defaults.

• Intergenerational transfers

  • The Government remains committed to helping farm families in passing down the results of their hard work and firmly believes that support for young farmers is critical to the renewal and future of Canada's agricultural sector.
  • Intergenerational transfers are an important way to facilitate access for new farmers to farmland, given that increasing land and capital costs are creating a major barrier to sector renewal.
  • Canada's support system for succession planning includes taxation, planning and programs.
  • Several tax measures exist that help to facilitate intergenerational farm transfers:
    • Lifetime Capital Gains exemption, which allows an individual selling a qualified property to use their capital gains to reduce their taxable income;
    • Rollover provision, which allows an individual to transfer the title of an asset on a tax-deferred basis; and
    • Reserve provision, which allows the proceeds from the sale of property to be claimed by the seller over a period of five years
  • Farm Credit Canada (FCC) provides low-interest loan programs for young and beginning farmers, and services to guide farm families through the succession planning process. These include:
    • Transition Loan: special payment options that benefit both the buyer and seller in a farm transfer, typically used to facilitate intergenerational farm transfers amongst family members.
    • Young Farmer Loan: a loan for farmers under 40 to purchase ag-related assets up to $1 million.
    • Young Entrepreneur Loan: a loan for young entrepreneurs under 40 to finance new or existing ag-related businesses up to $1 million.
    • Starter Loan: For 18 to 25 year-olds to build credit history and gain independence with their own loan to purchase livestock, equipment or shares in a company.
    • Women Entrepreneur Loan: a loan for women entrepreneurs to finance ag-related businesses, with no maximum loan amount.
  • Under the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA), the federal government guarantees, to the lender, repayment of 95% of a net loss on an eligible loan issued with a maximum aggregate loan for any one farm of $500,000, and offers special terms to assist young farmers in accessing capital to improve their operations.
  • Agriculture and Agri-food Canada will continue to work with farmers and the Department of Finance on tax measures to facilitate intergenerational transfers of farms, as committed to in my mandate letter.

• Compensation for supply-managed sectors (poultry, eggs and dairy)

  • Our government strongly supports Canadian producers and processors and is committed to protect and preserve supply management for future generations of Canadian farmers. We are delivering on our commitment to provide full and fair compensation in support of supply-managed farmers, as a result of commitments made under CPTPP and CETA.
  • In Budget 2019, we announced support for eligible dairy, poultry and egg producers for CETA and CPTPP. In August, we announced a total of $2 billion in compensation for dairy producers, including $345 million in 2019-2020 through the Dairy Direct Payment Program.
  • We have delivered full and fair compensation for dairy farmers, and we are working diligently with the poultry and egg farmers, and supply managed processing sector to provide that support. Furthermore, we maintain our commitment to deliver full and fair compensation for the new NAFTA once it has been ratified

  Responsive on SM4:

  • Through the Poultry and Egg Working Group we worked in partnership with the sectors to understand their views on how to respond to the impacts of CETA in the most fair and effective way possible.
  • The Government is committed to tailoring its response based on the unique needs of processors and SM4. Our commitment is firm and we are working to ensure that compensation is made available as quickly as possible.

• Labour shortages and Temporary Foreign Worker Program

  • Access to reliable labour is vital to the growth and success of the agriculture and agri-food sector.
  • Recognize there are gaps and we need to do more with industry in this area.

  Labour and skills initiatives

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Program creates opportunities for youth to explore employment in the agriculture and agri-food sector. As the first year of the Youth Employment and Skills Program is still underway, the Program does not yet have results for 2019-20. However, it is expected that the program will support approximately 250 internships.
  • Under CAP, $5 million has been invested in the Automation Cluster to help address labour costs and availability through automation, artificial intelligence and precision agriculture technologies in the horticulture sector.

  Temporary foreign workers

  • The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program plays an important role in supporting the labour needs of the sector.

  Pathways to permanent residence

  • In February 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
  • In July 2019, IRCC announced an Agri-Food Immigration Pilot to help address labour needs, particularly in meat processing and mushroom production.

• Value creation

  • AAFC is committed to Canada’s grain growers in moving towards a stronger, more innovative and more competitive sector in the global marketplace.
  • AAFC is committed to playing an important role in seed research and development.
  • AAFC’s economic analysis, on the two royalty collection mechanisms, that was put forward by the Grains Roundtable shows that increasing investment in breeding can result in improvements to crop yield and net farm incomes over time, consistent with other published studies in this area.
  • AAFC is pleased with the leadership and efforts that industry is putting forth and will continue to monitor the outcomes of the pilot project and participate in sector-led discussions as needed in order to help build consensus around a path forward.

• Mental health challenges in the agriculture sector

  • Issue that touches all people. The Government is working with provinces, territories and industry partners to support the mental health of farmers, ranchers and producers. 
  • Research shows farmers are vulnerable to mental health challenges, with rates of stress, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and burnout all higher than other population groups.
  • Farm Credit Canada is actively working to raise awareness of mental health warning signs and available resources through a variety of initiatives:
    • Reissuing mental health booklet, Rooted in Strength, to all farm mailboxes
    • funding mental health training sessions and public service announcements in communities across Canada.
  • The Government committed $5 billion, over ten years, to provinces and territories to improve mental health initiatives and services as part of Budget 2017.

• Innovation in the agricultural sector

  • In Canada, federal and provincial governments believe strongly in the power of science and innovation to drive improved profitability and sustainability in the sector.
  • Investments in science and innovation are a key part of how AAFC helps the sector seize opportunities and address challenges.
  • AAFC is working in collaboration with ISED to support initiatives within the Innovation and Skills Plan, such as the Innovative Superclusters Initiative and the Strategic Innovation Fund.
  • The Government’s $153 million investment in the Protein Industries Canada Supercluster will complement the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

  We are using approaches that combine talent and resources from industry, government and universities to find the best solutions for our farmers, processors and Canadians.

• Investing in agricultural research and resources

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada planned spending for science and innovation is $587 million for 2019-2020
  • This includes programming under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership: AgriInnovate and AgriScience, supporting the sector
  • Funding will maintain the national network of research and development centres and hire the next generation of scientists and professionals
  • This will support new emerging areas to advance science and innovation
  • Living Laboratories Initiative is a good example of agricultural innovation

  Infrastructure investments

  These projects are related to maintaining or improving the built infrastructure at these sites to ensure the proper operation of a research facility.

  Planned investments for research centres in 2019/20

  Main research centres	19/20 Planned investments ($,000)
  Agassiz	507
  Brandon	988
  Charlottetown	607
  Fredericton	378
  Guelph	35
  Harrow	898
  Kentville	992
  Lacombe	494
  Lethbridge	1,120
  London	2,138
  Morden	3
  Ottawa	2,764
  Ste-Foy	344
  St-Hyacinthe	5,547
  St-Jean-sur-Richelieu	1,073
  Saskatoon	1,902
  Sherbrooke	2,659
  St. John's	736
  Summerland	1,295
  Swift Current	1,150

  AAFC has 20 Research and Development Centres with 30 satellite research locations across Canada that includes:

  • British Columbia: Agassiz, Summerland
  • Alberta: Lacombe, Lethbridge
  • Saskatchewan: Saskatoon, Swift Current
  • Manitoba: Morden, Brandon
  • Ontario: Harrow, London, Guelph, Ottawa
  • Quebec: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Sherbrooke, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec City
  • Nova Scotia: Kentville
  • New Brunswick: Fredericton
  • Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: St. John’s

  Since October 2018, AAFC has hired 53 new scientists, including 25 scientific researchers and professionals in new and emerging areas of science through the Accelerated Staffing Initiative (ASI).

  By the end of fiscal year 2020-2021, it is expected that AAFC will staff a total of 75 positions under ASI.

• Crop protection products and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency

  • As per my mandate letter, I am committed to supporting Health Canada to make science-based decisions for the safe and sustainable use of crop protection products.
  • Current AAFC activities focus on pesticide research and data generation to support PMRA decision making.
  • AAFC has been actively engaged with both stakeholders and PMRA during the pesticide re-evaluation program review.
  • AAFC continues to explore avenues for collaboration with PMRA to ensure farmers have necessary tools to produce safe and nutritious foods for Canadians.
  • In order to protect aquatic invertebrates, Health Canada announced a proposed re-evaluation decision to cancel the majority of outdoor uses of neonicotinoids.
  • Final re-evaluation decision on neonicotinoids expected in fall 2020.
  • On March 4, 2020, Health Canada cancelled all uses of strychnine for the control of ground squirrels.
  • Strychnine will undergo a three-year phase out process, alternative products are available.

• Clusters and superclusters

  • Clusters support leading edge science discovery and innovation, driven by industry research priorities.
  • Protein Industries Canada supercluster: $153M federal investment to support plant-based protein sector, which was valued at US$8 billion in 2017, and projected to grow at an annual rate of 5.9 percent to US$14.8 billion by 2023.
  • Designed to strengthen Canada's competitive advantages and accelerate economic growth.

• Canada Grain Act review and the use of the accumulated surplus

  • The Government of Canada is committed to reviewing the Canada Grain Act and the modernization Canadian Grain Commission.
  • The Canada Grain Act has not been reviewed in many years. The way in which grain is produced, marketed and handled continues to change, and it is important to ensure the Commission can meet the sector’s needs.
  • That is why we are committed to holding consultations with grain farmers and stakeholders. We want to hear their ideas and perspectives about what reforms may be needed.
  • This review process will help us to collectively shape a vision for Canada’s grain quality assurance and producer protection system.
  • Our objective is to achieve an agile regulatory system that supports innovation, provides effective safeguards for producers, and maintains Canada’s reputation as a supplier of consistent, quality grain.

  Responsive - Why can’t the surplus be given back to farmers?

  • The Government is committed to modernizing the Canadian Grain Commission and ensuring the surplus benefits Canadian grain producers.
  • Through its strategic investment framework, the Canadian Grain Commission has the opportunity to invest funds to deliver clear benefits to producers and innovate programs and services that respond to an evolving sector.

• Consolidation of existing federal financial and advisory services

  • My mandate letter contained a commitment to review and enhance the mandate of Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
  • The Government is analyzing the agricultural lending environment to better understand opportunities to enhance support to the sector.
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will continue to work with FCC, other federal government departments, agencies and Crown corporations to identify opportunities for an enhanced mandate.

  Farm Credit Canada:

  • FCC is a financially self-sustained federal Crown corporation that lends money and provides other services to primary producers, food operations and agribusinesses that provide inputs or add value to agriculture.
  • Farm Credit Canada is Canada’s leading lender to the agricultural sector, with a loan portfolio of $36.1 billion in 2018/19, and 97 offices across Canada with over 1,900 employees.

• Closure of Ryding Regency Meat Packers

  • Ryding-Regency processed approximately 10% of cattle in Ontario. The backlog caused by the closure was ultimately processed in other provinces and in the United States.
  • Recognize industry concerns about slaughter capacity in Eastern Canada.
  • Close collaboration with industry and the province on this. Representatives from the CCA and BFO recently met with AAFC officials to continue dialogue.
  • Approximately 90% of the cattle processed in Ontario was in the only 5 federally inspected plants. In 2019, Ontario’s share of national federally-inspected slaughter was 20%.
  • February 19, Canadian Agricultural Partnership cost-shared announced with Ontario: up to $2 million in projects for provincially licensed abattoirs to improve food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity measures at their operations.

• African swine fever

  • The Government of Canada takes disease threats such as African swine fever (ASF) seriously. ASF is a clear threat to pork producers and processors in this country.
  • African swine fever does not cause disease in humans and has never been reported in Canada.
  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring the global situation and is taking an unprecedented level of action through collaboration with industry and provinces to prevent African swine fever from being introduced in North America.
  • The Government of Canada continues to enforce strong import controls to protect the Canadian swine population from African swine fever. These controls prevent the import of live pigs, pork products and by-products from affected countries and zones.
  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is working with the Canadian Border Services Agency to address concerns related to travellers and illegal imports coming from countries affected by African swine fever. This includes adding 24 detector dog teams, bringing the total number to 39 at Canadian ports of entry, to help prevent illegal imports of meat products.

• Mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy [ESB]) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) submission 2020

  • Canada is recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as a “controlled BSE-risk" country.
  • Canada will submit its application for BSE negligible risk status to the OIE in July 2020.
  • This application will be the result of collaboration between federal/ provincial governments/industry partners to recognize the strong programs Canada has in place to prevent and control the spread of domestic and foreign animal diseases.
  • Submission in 2020 will allow Canada to present the most robust information to support a comprehensive submission to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

• Animal welfare and transportation

  • Amendments to the animal transportation regulations came into force February 20, 2020 and protect the welfare of animals by preventing suffering during transportation.
  • The amendments are the result of 10 years of consultations with industry, stakeholders, and the Canadian public.
  • The amendments better align Canada's animal transportation regulations with international standards, industry practices and the most current scientific research.
  • Two-year transition period for new feed, water and rest requirements that will allow time to work out issues with industry, gather data on impacts of requirements, and to work on effective solutions.
  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is working with industry on interpretation of requirements and next steps.

  Supplementary Estimates (B) 2019-2020

  • AAFC’s 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates (B) total $435 million.
  • $345.0 million in Statutory Grants to support Canada’s supply managed dairy producers through the Dairy Direct Payment Program.
  • Forecast increase of $21.4 million in Statutory Contributions in the Advance Payments Program under the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act.
  • $55.3 million in Voted Contributions for the Canadian Agricultural Partnership program.
  • This brings AAFC’s 2019-20 spending authorities to approximately $3 billion.

• Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI)

  	Political party	Location
  John Barlow (1st Vice Chair)	Conservative	Foothills, Alberta
  Lyne Bessette	Liberal	Brome-Missisquoi, Quebec
  Kody Blois	Liberal	Kings-Hants, Nova Scotia
  Francis Drouin	Liberal	Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ontario
  Neil R. Ellis	Liberal	Bay of Quinte, Ontario
  Pat Finnigan (Chair)	Liberal	Miramichi-Grand Lake, New Brunswick
  Richard Lehoux	Conservative	Beauce, Quebec
  Tim Louis	Liberal	Kitchener-Conestoga, Ontario
  Alistair MacGregor	NDP	Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, British Columbia
  Yves Perron (2nd Vice Chair)	Bloc Québécois	Berthier-Maskinongé, Quebec
  Lianne Rood	Conservative	Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Ontario
  Gerald Soroka	Conservative	Yellowhead, Alberta

• The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

  43rd Parliament – First session
  (February 10, 2020 – Present)

  • Chair
    • Chair Pat Finnigan
      Miramichi – Grand Lake, NB Liberal
  • Vice-Chair
    • John Barlow
      Foothills, AB
      Conservative
    • Yves Perron
      (Berthier–Maskinongé, QC)
      Bloc Québécois
  • Members
    • Lyne Bessette
      Brome—Missisquoi, QC
      Liberal
    • Kody Blois
      Kings—Hants, NS
      Liberal
    • Francis Drouin
      Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
      Liberal
    • Richard Lehoux
      Beauce, QC
      Conservative
    • Tim Louis
      Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
      Liberal
    • Alistair MacGregor
      Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
      NDP
    • Lianne Rood
      Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
      Conservative
    • Gerald Soroka
      Yellowhead, AB
      Conservative
  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Neil R. Ellis
      Bay of Quinte, ON

  CPC- John Barlow (Foothills, AB)

  

  John Barlow was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Macleod, AB, in 2014. He was re-elected in 2015, to represent the new riding of Foothills, AB.

  Prior to being elected to office, MP Barlow had an award-winning career as a journalist earning numerous individual awards including the Telus Editorial Excellence Award and the Gordon Scott Memorial Award presented to Alberta’s top columnist.

  Additionally, John is a respected member of several industry organizations, including the Journalism Advisory Boards at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Mount Royal University. He remains a member of the Okotoks Rotary Club and the Okotoks Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

  John grew up in rural Saskatchewan where his family has a fourth generation business in Regina.

  Notable parliamentary roles

  • Critic, Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 2019 to Present
  • Critic, Interprovincial Trade, 2016
  • Associate Shadow Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food, 2016

  Committee memberships

  • Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), September 2017 – September 2018

  Bills

  • C-205, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Barlow has risen in the House 24 times on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-02-18: … a grain producer from my riding came into my office…it is not often I see farmers and ranchers almost in tears…He suffered through one of the worst springs and falls in 60 years of farming. He finally harvested his crops, but now he is dealing with a blockade. There are no trains at the terminal where he could sell his commodities and get his product to market…

  2020-02-03: …The Liberal carbon tax is costing Canadian farmers tens of thousands of dollars. The APAS president, Todd Lewis, says that it is comparable to having 12% of one's paycheque just disappear.

  2020-01-31: …This is a Liberal government that missed a critical deadline to apply to the World Organisation for Animal Health for negligible risk status for Canada when it came to bovine spongiform encephalopathy… The agriculture minister, the trade minister, the health minister, the Prime Minister, all of them dropped the ball. How does one miss a date that we knew of 11 years before it was coming? As a result, our beef ranchers in Ontario are struggling…

  2020-01-31: …It is a government that promised to do a thorough and robust review of the business risk management programs and come up with a new program that would be bankable, accessible and efficient for Canadian agriculture. The Liberals have not done that. It is a broken promise…

  2020-01-31: …There is no other agreement I can think of that Canada signed that has put a cap on the growth of an agricultural commodity, which the Liberals have done with dairy. There is now a quota on the export of products like skim milk powder and protein powder…

  2020-01-30: Mr. Speaker, for Canadian farmers, this has been a harvest from hell, and the Liberals are only making it worse. They do not even understand it. Canadian farmers have had to dry their grain and heat their barns, and they are being crushed by a Liberal carbon tax.

  Tweets

  2020-02-05: "APAS estimates a 5,000-acre grain operation will lose $8,000 to $10,000 in 2020 with a carbon tax of $30/tonne, rising to between $13,000 and $17,000 when the carbon tax hits $50/tonne in 2022." 
  2020-02-04: In my constituency of #Foothills, especially when it comes to agriculture and the benefits resulting from this agreement, getting the new #NAFTA ratified is exceptionally critical.

  Liberal- Lyne Bessette (Brome—Missisquoi, QC)

  

  Lyne Bessette was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represents the riding of Brome – Missisquoi, QC, in 2019.

  After attending high school at Massey-Vanier, MP Bessette went on to study science at the Cégep de Sherbrooke. Around that time, she started a career as a professional cyclist, opening doors to valuable life experiences — meeting exceptional people; seeing all kinds of diversity, from extreme poverty to extreme wealth; and bearing witness to the love people feel for their region and country.

  Her impressive cycling record includes two Olympic Games, several world championships and one gold medal at the London Paralympic Games, racing in tandem with a blind cyclist. MP Bessette is a team player par excellence, and she is passionately devoted to Brome–Missisquoi.

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Bessette has risen in the House twice on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-02-04: Mr. Speaker, early in the year, École de la Chantignole, in Bromont, embarked upon a wonderful environmental impact reduction initiative. January 10 saw the official launch of the “One, two, three, compost!” project that all classes are taking part in. I would like to congratulate the students and teachers who distinguished themselves through the concrete actions they have taken to reduce waste by composting. Set in motion by the teachers, the project is the result of a collaboration between the Brome-Missisquoi RCM, the City of Bromont, the school board and the school. A green committee was created in order the get the students involved. These young people are true role models in the field of environmental protection, and this initiative will prepare them for taking on their role as responsible citizens. In closing, I would like to congratulate the teachers and students of the green committee of École de la Chantignole in Bromont.

  2020-01-29: Mr. Speaker, agriculture is a dynamic industry rife with opportunity. Since today is Bell Let's Talk Day, it is important to remember that the agriculture sector is not immune from mental distress. As part of their job, farmers have to cope with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions and global markets, and the uncertainty that this creates can weigh heavily on them. Many organizations, such as Au coeur des familles agricoles in Quebec and the Farm Stress Line in Saskatchewan, are making outstanding efforts to support our farmers' well-being.

  Liberal- Kody Blois (Kings–Hants, NS)

  

  Kody Blois was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Kings – Hants, NS, in 2019.

  MP Blois is a dedicated leader with a proven record of serving his community. Born and raised in Kings—Hants, he grew up in a working-class household. He understands the priorities of the families who live there and knows what it takes to create new jobs and strengthen the middle class.

  The first member of his family to attend university, MP Blois completed degrees in commerce, law, and public administration - which sparked his interest in serving his community. His parents instilled values in him that he carries to this day: the importance of hard work, caring for others, and making a difference in any way you can.

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Blois has risen in the House ten times on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-01-30: …I find it very rich that members of the opposition benches talk about how important supply management is when the member for Abbotsford, who previously spoke, was the minister responsible for negotiating away major parts of our dairy sector under CETA and CPTPP.…Will the member opposite recognize or perhaps enlighten the House on that inconsistency, where we fought to maintain the system and the Conservatives got rid of it under no pressure?

  2020-01-27: …the seasonal agricultural worker program is an important federal tool to ensure our farmers have access to the labour they need to grow their businesses and ensure our Canadian agricultural products reach markets both domestically and around the world. While this program is absolutely crucial, I believe there are ways we can streamline the process to make it even easier for our farmers and applicants in our communities…

  2020-12-09: Mr. Speaker, in response to the member opposite's comment on supply management, I am from Kings—Hants. We have the largest agricultural concentration east of Montreal with many dairy farmers and poultry farmers in our area. I want the member opposite to know that I support farmers and I support our supply-managed farmers as well. As for the assumption that our government is somehow betraying farmers, I want them to remember that our government was forced into the deal with NAFTA. We maintained the integrity of a supply-managed system and we have also compensated farmers.

  Liberal Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON)

  

  Francis Drouin was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON, in 2015.

  MP Drouin is active on a variety of parliamentary associations such as the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

  MP Drouin holds a college diploma in business administration-finance from Collège La Cité and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa. In terms of his professional experience, he worked as a special assistant in the Office of the Ontario Premier and then went on to work in the private sector as a government relations consultant. As a volunteer, MP Drouin has been a member of the Board of Directors of Collège La Cité and worked as the government relations manager for Startup Canada.

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), January 2016 to September 2019

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Drouin has risen in the House twice on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-02-06: …The dairy industry is also very important to my riding. I would like to remind the House that in 2008, under the former NAFTA, there was a milk protein issue in Canada. U.S. exports to Canada increased exponentially for 10 years. Americans or third parties who wanted to export to Canada found ways to circumvent the rules. Now, under the new NAFTA agreement, the other parties, both Canada and the U.S., must be notified. Is that not a good thing for Canada's dairy sector?

  2020-02-03: …In my riding we have dairy farmers, chicken and turkey producers, and egg producers. Supply management continues to be a very important issue to them…It is true that we lost some market share. During negotiations around the agreement between Europe and Canada, it was not the Liberal government that was prepared to allow loopholes in supply management. It was the members who are currently seated across the way who, in 2013, were prepared to give up 1.5% of Canada's market share. It was not the Liberal government that said it was willing to give up 3.25% of the market under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It was the Conservative government that announced it had signed an agreement on October 5, 2015, at 11:59:59 p.m. The Conservatives threw out a number that did not make any sense to the dairy industry, which nevertheless accepted it without even consulting its farmers. I think it is important to mention that we have a duty to consult Canadians, even if our party is the one in power…

  Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary- Neil R. Ellis (Bay of Quinte, ON)

  

  Neil Ellis was elected as the first Member of Parliament to represent the new riding, Bay of Quinte, ON, in 2015. 
  MP Ellis has owned and operated a successful local business for nearly 30 years. From 2006-2014, he also served as Mayor of the City of Belleville. A committed leader and visionary, he championed innovative strategies to address a serious shortage of family physicians and other health practitioners in the region and also introduced local infrastructure improvements.

  During his two terms as Mayor, MP Ellis realized the importance of federal leadership to ensuring that municipal governments have reliable funding to allocate towards critical infrastructure projects and service programming. He believes this is the key to promoting economic growth and improving the quality of life for all constituents.

  MP Ellis has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Psychology from Carleton University, in addition to a Chartered Director (C. Dir.) and Human Resources Compensation Committee Certification (H.R.C.C.C.), both professional designations through McMaster University's Directors College programs.

  Parliamentary roles

  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, December 2019 – Present

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Chair, Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA), February 2016 to September 2019
  • Member, Liaison Committee (LIAI), February 2016 to September 2019

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Ellis has taken part in one Adjournment Debate on the topic of Canola Trade with China.

  Tweets

  2020-02-06: It’s been a very productive week here in Ottawa! Thank you to representatives from
  @CAFTA_ACCA,@SeedInnovation,@CDNaquaculture,@GrainFarmers,@OntarioChicken& @OntarioDairy for taking the time out of your busy schedules to discuss the future of agriculture in Canada.

  2020-01-31: Thank you to members from the @canolacouncil and the @ccga_ca for meeting with me in Ottawa yesterday. It's so great to have the opportunity to speak with agri-producers and key stakeholders about canola production in Canada!

  2020-01-16: Thank you to the Dairy Farmers of Ontario for inviting me to your banquet yesterday evening in Toronto. It was great to have an opportunity to speak with Board Members on the future of dairy farming in Ontario, and I even saw a familiar face from Prinzhaven Farms in the County!

  2020-01-07: Thank you to the @GrainFarmers for inviting me to bring greetings at your AGM this morning! This was a fantastic opportunity for me to connect with industry leaders, especially as I move forward with my role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food.

  Liberal- Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB)

  

  Pat Finnigan was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB, in 2015.

  The son of a farmer, MP Finnigan grew up in Rogersville. During the late 1970s he and his wife, Lise, started their company, best known as “Mr. Tomato”. This prosperous family farming business regularly gives back to the community through their involvement in local events and fundraising for charitable organizations. MP Finnigan is also one of the founding members of the La Récolte de Chez Nous co-operative – a network in which cultivators can exchange products and promote their industry.

  MP Finnigan is very involved in his community. Among other activities, he was the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC) and President of the Kent CBDC and the Régie de la Santé de Miramichi. He was also president of the Miramichi Community Action Committee, and a member of the Ministry of Agriculture’s round table. He has received recognition on numerous occasions for his community involvement. In 2008, he received the Award of Excellence from the Province of New Brunswick for his community leadership and the Kent County Citizen of the Year Award, and in 2011, the New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists awarded him the Louis Hébert Award.

  MP Finnigan holds a technical diploma in phytology from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

  Committee memberships

  • Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), January 2016 to September 2019
  • Member, Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, January 2016 to September 2019
  • Member, Liaison Committee (LIAI), February 2016 to September 2019

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Finnigan has not risen in the House on any topics relating to Agriculture.

  CPC- Richard Lehoux Beauce, QC

  

  Richard Lehoux was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Beauce, QC, in 2019.

  A former President of the Fédération Québécoise des municipalités (FQM), MP Lehoux is a strong champion of regions. He is really passionate about municipal politics.

  Born in 1956, Mayor of Saint-Elzéar from 1998 to 2017 and Reeve of the Nouvelle-Beauce RCM from 2000 to 2017, MP Lehoux was a member of the Board of the FQM between 2001 and 2017. He was Vice-President from 2010 to 2014 and Interim President for three months in 2012, before his election as President, a position he held between 2014 and 2017. MP Lehoux played a leading role in all battles and all gains of the FQM in recent years: Phase 3 of the National Rurality Policy, Framework Act on the occupation and the vitality of territories, Commission of Inquiry on the awarding and management of public contracts in the construction industry, Mines Act, Partnership with the government in 2016-2019.

  He was also Vice-President of the Mutuelle des municipalités du Québec (MMQ) since its foundation by the FQM in 2003, and was President from 2017 to June 2018.

  MP Lehoux is the father of three children and grand-father of nine grandchildren. As an agriculture entrepreneur and fourth generaltion dairy farmer, he exported his savoir-faire on the international stage. Now, he puts his expertise and his passion to the service of municipalities and regions of Quebec.

  Committee membership

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Lehoux has risen in the House five times on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-01-30: …Supply-managed producers, including dairy farmers, will see their market shrink by 3.6%. How will they be compensated for those losses?

  We know that, in addition to this reduction for dairy farmers, another very important aspect is the need for approval from the agreement partners before new markets can be developed, following the loss of classes 6 and 7. Where is our sovereignty in this very important economic sector?...

  2020-01-30: …Opening up our markets is great, but what assurances do we have that other countries will apply the same standards as we do here on our products? In the dairy industry, for example, our neighbours to the south allow the use of hormones that are banned in Canada…

  2020-12-06: The Liberal government has completely abandoned farmers. Farmers across the country have many reasons to be concerned: dairy, egg and poultry producers still have not received full compensation; inaction on China, which continues to ban imports of western canola; uncertainty in fuel transport, which led to a propane shortage and nearly caused a disaster in Ontario and Quebec. What does this government plan to do to stand up for our farmers?

  Liberal- Tim Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga, ON)

  

  Tim Louis was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Kitchener—Conestoga, ON, in 2019.

  As a successful business owner, professional musician, and community charity volunteer, MP Louis is a community leader who understands how to create well-paying new jobs for the families of Kitchener—Conestoga. He has lived in the Forest Heights area of Kitchener for the past 25 years, where he and his wife are raising their two children. His involvement in local community initiatives allows him to have an understanding of our communities and the families that work hard everyday to create a better life for everyone in Kitchener—Conestoga.

  MP Louis has firsthand experience with the challenges that middle-class families face every day. He understands the connections to the manufacturing sector, the arts, the tech sector, as well as farming and agriculture.

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food(AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (CHPC), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Louis has not risen in the House on any topics relating to agriculture.

  NDP-Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, BC)

  

  Alistair MacGregor was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Cowichan–Malahat–Langford, BC, in 2015.

  MP MacGregor is a strong advocate for agriculture and lives in the Cowichan Valley with his family on a small farming property. He currently serves as the NDP’s Critic for Agriculture, Rural Economic Development, and as Deputy Critic for Justice.

  He has been actively engaging constituents on issues such as climate change, housing, pensions, salmon habitat, and the clean energy economy of the future. A former forestry worker, MP MacGregor has been an advocate for community-based agriculture with a focus on promoting environmental sustainability and ending food insecurity.

  Parliamentary roles

  • Critic, Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 2019 to Present
  • Critic, Rural Economic Development, November 2019 to Present
  • Deputy Critic, Justice, November 2019 to Present

  Committee memberships

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present
  • Member, Standing Joint committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (REGS), February 2020 to present
  • Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), January 31, 2018 – September 11, 2019

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP MacGregor has risen in the House seven times on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-02-03: …I want to draw my hon. colleague's attention to one particular section in the agreement that places threshold limits on dairy exports, notably milk protein powders and infant formula. This agreement would establish export thresholds whereby if Canada goes beyond them, we have agreed to slap on punitive tariffs, basically pricing ourselves out of the market. I would like to know what the United States got in return for our agreeing to this. … Just what kind of economic damage might this mean for our important dairy producers across the country going into the future?

  2020-02-03: …The State of Wisconsin produces more milk than the entire country of Canada combined. As it does not have supply management, it has wild fluctuations in price. Many farmers are experiencing bankruptcy down there. There are serious concerns to mental health and they do not have the protections there. In a sense, we are trying to open up our market from U.S. demands. We are trying to pay the price for their overproduction…

  2020-01-27: …I would like to hear his comments on our developing some policies in this Parliament that recognize the hard work that farmers do, especially with regenerative agricultural practices that sequester more carbon in the soil, and whether we have an opportunity to give farmers a place to become one of the greatest weapons we have against climate change with their use of good soil practices.

  2020-01-27: …One thing that we heard from farmers is that they are very much on the front lines of climate change. That happened repeatedly at the Standing Committee on Agriculture. The wet weather that we have seen, which has resulted in the high cost of drying grain, is going to continue in the future. We are going to see more adverse weather affecting farmers who will see their crops be affected by climate change. There are tools available, like business risk-management programs, that can take care of the high costs. I am wondering, given the fact that farmers are facing this challenge head on, what his answer is to his constituents in fighting climate change. What policies does he think can actually help them weather these storms?

  Tweets

  2020-01-29: Carbon tax debate aside, the #harvestfromhell is indicative of the threats and challenges our farmers are and will be facing from #ClimateChange. They are on the front lines and will be facing many more adverse weather events in the future.

  BQ- Yves Perron (Berthier–Maskinongé, QC)

  

  Yves Perron was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Berthier–Maskinongé, QC, in 2019.

  With a background in social sciences and humanities, up to the 2019 election, MP Perron was teaching high school history in Saint-Félix-de-Valois. MP Perron also has a keen interest in economics, administration, communication, and political science. He has been very involved with the youth in his community, especially through various cultural projects and humanitarian trips.

  MP Perron has chaired several civil and political organizations and has been the national president of the Bloc Québécois since August 2018.

  Parliamentary roles

  • Critic, Agriculture and Agri-Food, November 2019 to Present

  Committee membership

  • Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Perron has risen in the House 13 times on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-02-05: …The people in this sector do not want to hear any more promises or vague commitments. Those commitments get made all the time, but they are rarely if ever fulfilled. Only the protection a law would offer can end this vicious cycle that is slowly but surely killing off supply management, our agricultural model, our thriving rural communities, and the dynamic use of our land…

  2020-02-05: …I would also like to see an assessment of the cost of the adverse impact on our local farmers and on the use of our agricultural land. That is an important aspect that the members across the way do not seem to care too much about. The only thing they care about is signing the agreement as fast as possible…

  2020-02-04: …We will not rest until farmers are fully compensated…We will speak out against any future breach of supply management starting with the imminent negotiations with the United Kingdom in the wake of Brexit….By preventing our producers from disposing of their surplus product, CUSMA could destabilize supply management…

  2020-12-12: …we need to take swift and meaningful action to fight climate change…Think of the flooding in 2017 and 2019…. the farmland that was flooded, making it impossible for farmers to plant crops there. When nothing is planted, nothing can be harvested…The Bloc Québécois thinks that, at minimum, the greenhouse gas reduction targets should be set based on the Paris agreement targets. We also think that those targets should be made legally enforceable so that the government is required to meet them…

  Tweets

  2020-11-25: #BlocQuebecois avec les agriculteurs en appui à leurs revendications. Le gouvernement doit faire pression sur le #cn afin que le propane circule et que le travail agricole puisse reprendre. Agir sur la réglementation du transport ferroviaire pourrait accélérer les choses.

  CPC- Lianne Rood (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON)

  

  Lianne Rood was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON, in 2019.

  MP Rood is an entrepreneur and farmer with a background in politics and small business. She grew up on a 1,000-acre vegetable farm in Grand Bend, Ontario, and is equally comfortable in potato fields as she is in the boardroom. After receiving an Honours Bachelor's degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Windsor in 2003, she worked in Ottawa as a political staffer for six years.

  Notable parliamentary roles

  • Deputy Shadow Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food, December 2019 to present

  Committee membership

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Rood has risen in the House twice on topics relating to agriculture.

  2020-01-30: Something that is often overlooked is the impact of the carbon tax on farms and agriculture. Who is going to feed Canadians when the government continues to raise taxes and tax farmers out of business?... I had a farmer send me a bill. In one month, he had to pay over $7,000 in carbon tax to dry his grain. Profit margins are already so low for so many farmers and the Liberals want to tax them more, squeeze everything out of them…

  2020-12-06: Our beef farmers are hurting in Ontario. Farmers are being left in the dark about the ongoing dispute between the CFIA and three specific beef processing plants in Ontario. The shutting down of these plants has caused many farmers to go into crisis. What immediate action is the minister going to take to help these farmers impacted by the closures?

  Tweets

  2020-02-06: Yesterday I had a productive meeting with members of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association @wheatgrowers. We discussed trade barriers, issues relating to the TFW program, and the negative impact of Carbon tax on the #CdnAg industry.

  2020-01-30: The Carbon Tax makes everything more expensive through added transportation and production costs. The burdens of our farmers are passed on to all Canadian consumers, and it is a big reason why life in Canada is becoming unaffordable for so many. The Carbon Tax must go!

  2020-01-29: Study finds intimidation from "animal rights extremists" is causing Canadian farmers anxiety/depression. “They described feeling scrutinized…they felt that they were constantly under attack.” #BellLetsTalk #MentalHealthMatters #cdnag

  CPC Gerald Soroka (Yellowhead, AB)

  

  Gerald Soroka was first elected as a Member of Parliament to represent the riding Yellowhead, AB, in 2019

  MP Soroka resides on a farm north of Evansburg on the original homestead that his grandparents moved to in May of 1930. He has lived there his entire life making him a third generation Yellowhead county resident.

  Having been raised on the farm it was an easy progression for him to continue farming after graduating from Grand Trunk High School. He farmed and had two off the farm jobs over the next ten years until he went full time farming. During this time, he was Vice President and President of West Central Forage Association as well as Vice President of the Alberta Forage Council.

  Looking to solve problems at a larger scale, Gerald went on to serve as a Division one Councillor and Mayor of Yellowhead County before making the jump to federal politics. During his time as Mayor, he was also elected as Vice President of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (Now RMA) from 2008 to 2010.

  Committee membership

  • Member, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI), February 2020 to present

  Statements on agriculture

  As of February 18, 2020, MP Soroka has risen once in the House of Commons on a topic relating to agriculture.

  2020-01-30: …the TPP, for instance, had more quota reductions than what is being proposed now. This is one area where the Liberals gave up more than what was previously agreed upon. It is one challenge I have with the new agreement. I forget the other parts of the member's question, but one thing I do know is that we were not as involved as we would have liked. This agreement affects all parties across Canada, and we should have been better addressed throughout the whole process, even in the last 48 days.