SoVote

Jun/8/22 4:23:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, entitled “Confronting Urgent Challenges and Building the Resilience of the Canadian Food Supply Chain”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our clerk, our analysts and, indeed, the witnesses who appeared before the committee. Their contributions have been very important, and I would like to thank everyone for their collective work.

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Context: House Hansard - 84 - Jun/8/22

Mr. Kody Blois (Kings—Hants, Lib.)

Jun/8/22 10:18:26 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-19

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague mentioned the importance of agriculture. I share that too in my riding. I am trying to get to the bottom of what the Conservatives' position might be on fertilizer tariffs. Yesterday they had an opposition day motion that said the 35% tariff we are imposing on fertilizer imported from Russia and Belarus should be eliminated completely. At the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on Monday, we heard from Yulia Klymenko, a member of Parliament from Ukraine, who said that this is a really important measure to not be supporting Russia and for trying to dissuade buying products from there. The Conservatives have made clear they feel that farmers who purchased prior to March 2 should be exempt, and I share that view, but moving forward the tariff is in place. We think it is a reasonable and responsible thing to do to support Ukraine. Conservatives have been calling on that since day one of this war. What is the member's position on this and can he explain what the Conservative position might actually be?

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All Topics

Context: House Hansard - 84 - Jun/8/22

Mr. Sébastien Lemire (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, BQ)

Jun/8/22 11:05:27 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-19

Madam Speaker, let me begin by complimenting my colleague from Kings—Hants on his French. I would also like to tell him that he is as solid as his play on the field. He is dedicated to his team and I can attest to his determination. I would like to commend my colleague from Lac-Saint-Jean, too. When he uses his head, he really gets results. My question is about agriculture, which my colleague spoke about at length in his speech. Back home, members of the Union des producteurs agricoles have made a number of proposals and recommendations, including abolishing the gas excise tax of 4¢ per litre, but just for the agricultural sector, not for everyone. There is also a proposal to abolish the 35% tariff on inputs from Russia. This affects farmers, but in other countries this tax is not passed on to farmers; therefore, it ends up on our plates. Could the government set up an emergency account, like it did during the pandemic, but especially for farmers, with loans as well as grants and subsidies? Could the advance payments program be increased to $200,000 to provide some breathing room? These are all possible solutions, and to that list I would add accelerating the temporary foreign worker program to ensure that workers are available to work our farmland.

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