Special Debates / Emergency Debates
Leave granted: livestock industry; concurrence in a report by a committee on the same matter prevented due to a request for a Government response pursuant to Standing Order 109
Debates, p. 3012
Context
On February 13, 2008, André Bellavance (Richmond–Arthabaska) rose to request that an emergency debate be held, pursuant to Standing Order 52, on the subject of the crisis being experienced by hog and beef producers because of the rising dollar and the rising cost of inputs, combined with a major drop in the price of pork. Making reference to the lack of a response from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food to letters from livestock producers and to the unanimous Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food that recommended that transitional measures be put into place to alleviate the crisis, along with longer-term measures to improve the competitiveness of the industry, Mr. Bellavance argued that an emergency debate was necessary.[1]
Resolution
The Speaker ruled immediately. He noted that, since the Committee had requested a Government response to its Report and, accordingly, a concurrence motion could not be moved until the response was received, he would allow an emergency debate to take place that evening.
Decision of the Chair
The Speaker: Obviously, I have received the letter from the hon. Member for Richmond–Arthabaska and I have also heard his arguments today concerning the urgency of this matter.
Normally, because there is a committee report on this subject and therefore there will be a debate on the concurrence motion, I would disregard a request of this nature. However, at this point the Report is in but the Committee has requested a response from the Government, and we are waiting for that response. But it is not necessary to wait until April 10, because that may be a little too far away.
I therefore believe that this is an urgent matter. The hon. Member has explained his arguments clearly today. Accordingly, I will allow the debate this evening, after the time of adjournment.
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