AGRI Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
Minutes of Proceedings
Bloc Québécois
Melanie Vanstone and Mary Jane Ireland made statements and answered questions.
John Barlow gave notice of the following motion:
That, given the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry’s broken promise to come up with a plan to lower food prices for Canadians by Thanksgiving and the correspondence distributed to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, from the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food requesting the re-opening of hearings into Canada’s high grocery prices, that the committee order the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Minister of Finance to table by Friday, December 1, 2023, all records including briefing notes, analysis and emails on plans to lower grocery prices and to request that they appear before the committee to explain how their plan will lower food prices in Canada.
Questioning of the witnesses resumed.
At 9:30 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 9:35 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.
It was agreed, — That, in accordance with Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the issues relating to the horticultural sector, insurance programs and federal assistance granted to the horticultural sector, which is more directly affected by climate hazards; that as part of this study, the committee address the effectiveness of insurance programs and the one-time assistance granted, as well as possible solutions to be developed for greater climate resilience, such as climate adaptation measures and programs to better support the horticultural sector in dealing with climate change; that the committee devote up to six meetings to this study; that the committee hear from witnesses on this issue; that it report its observations and recommendations to the House and that, in accordance with Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
It was agreed, — That, given the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry's plan to stabilize food prices for Canadians by Thanksgiving, and the correspondence distributed to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 from the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food requesting the re-opening of hearings into Canada's high grocery prices, the committee order the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Minister of Finance to table, by Friday, December 1, 2023, briefing notes and analysis of plans to lower grocery store prices and request that they appear before the committee to explain how their plan will stabilize food prices in Canada.
It was agreed, — That a press release be drafted, published and sent to grocery chains that do not comply with the order for production of documents adopted on Thursday, October 19, 2023, after the November 2 deadline has passed, urging them to provide the documents by Monday, November 6, 2023, before 3:30 p.m.
The committee proceeded to give drafting instructions to the analysts for a draft report.
At 10:14 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.