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AGRI Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 96
Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:16 p.m.
Audio Only
Presiding
Kody Blois, Chair (Liberal)

• John Aldag for Ben Carr (Liberal)
• Branden Leslie for Lianne Rood (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Corentin Bialais, Analyst
• Daniel Farrelly, Analyst
As an individual
• Witness-Témoin 1
• Dr. Judith Samson-French, Veterinarian, Banded Peak Veterinary Hospital
• Dr. Jonas Watson, Veterinarian
J Woods Livestock Services
• Jennifer Woods, Animal Care and Welfare Specialist
Overseas Horse Services Ltd.
• Kenneth Serrien, Managing Director
The Canadian Equine Exporters Association
• William Shore, President
• Kevin Wilson, Treasurer
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-355, An Act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain Acts.

Witness-Témoin 1, Judith Samson-French and Jennifer Woods made statements and answered questions.

At 12:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:11 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Jonas Watson, Kenneth Serrien and Kevin Wilson made statements and, with William Shore, answered questions.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Yves Perron gave notice of the following motion:

Considering the lack of response from Loblaws and Walmart to our last communication, and considering that the negotiated adoption of the Code of Conduct seems seriously compromised, that the committee invite the members of the provisional Board of Directors of the Code of Conduct, as well as the members of the Steering Committee for the negotiations on the Code of Conduct, to testify before the committee on the status of the situation in order to inform us accurately on the situation and to better orient the committee's potential recommendations to the government.

Motion

John Barlow moved, —

Given that:

a) Seven Provincial Premiers and 70% of Canadians oppose the government’s 23% carbon tax hike on April Fools’ Day;

b) The Premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have issued public letters calling on the government to provide a carbon tax carve out for farmers and pass Bill C-234 in its original form;

c) The carbon tax currently costs greenhouse operators in Canada $22 million a year and will pay between $82 million and $100 million by 2030 when the carbon tax quadruples;

d) 44% of fresh fruit and vegetables growers are already selling at a loss and 77% can’t offset production cost increase;

e) The Parliamentary Budget Officer has stated the carbon tax will cost farmers nearly $1 billion by 2030;

f) The 2023 Food Price Report estimates that the carbon tax will cost a typical 5,000-acre farm $150,000 by 2030; and

g) The Food Professor recommends pausing the carbon tax for the entire food supply chain.

That the committee calls on the government to restore affordability and spike the carbon tax hike on April 1st.

Debate arose thereon.

At 1:16 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Stéphanie De Rome
Clerk of the committee