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The Chair (Mr. Robert Morrissey (Egmont, Lib.))

08:16:58 a.m.
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Good morning, committee members. Welcome, everyone. We will begin. The clerk has advised me that the sound of everybody appearing virtually has been tested and is fine. We have a quorum, so with that I will call to order meeting number 116 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. I assume you've familiarized yourself with the new technology in the room. Before we begin, I would ask members appearing in the room to respect the translators by doing that. Please don't touch the microphone boom if you do not have to. As well, when you're not using the earpiece, please keep it in the assigned location to prevent feedback and sound popping that can cause hearing damage to the interpreters. Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, with members appearing virtually as well as in the room. You have the option of choosing to participate in the official language of your choice. For those in the room, translation services are available using the headset provided. For those appearing virtually, click on the globe icon at the bottom of your Surface and choose the official language of your choice. If there's an interruption in translation services, please get my attention by raising your hand in the room. If you're appearing virtually, use the “raise hand” icon. We will suspend while it is being corrected. Again, I would remind those participating to please direct any questions or inquiries through me, the chair. Wait until I recognize you before proceeding. Pursuant to the order of reference of December 6, 2023, the committee is commencing its clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-322, an act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program. In case members have technical questions, we have with us today two officials from the Department of Employment and Social Development: Erin Gillespie, director, social policy directorate; and Hugues Vaillancourt, director general, social policy directorate. I understand that Mr. Vaillancourt has to leave at 9:30 to attend another committee meeting. We also have with us this morning Mr. Cormier, the sponsor of the bill. He is replacing Mr. Long for today's meeting. Now we will begin with the formal part of reviewing the bill. Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1 and of the preamble are postponed until we get to the end. We'll now go directly into the clause-by-clause. Shall clause 2 carry? (Clause 2 agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4) (On clause 3) The Chair: We have an amendment. Mrs. Gray, do you wish to move the amendment?

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C-322, An Act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program

Mrs. Tracy Gray (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC)

08:22:08 a.m.
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Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to move the following amendment, that Bill C-322 in clause 3, be amended by adding after line 15 on page 3 the following: (i) examine the applicability of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to food and the transportation of food sourced under the school food program and, where applicable, examine ways to exempt them from the application of that Act. Mr. Chair, this really is about bringing down the price of food. We know that food costs have gone up. There was a very recent Food Banks Canada poverty report card that talked about the price of food and how much more families are paying. We also heard at a previous study from not-for-profits—it was specifically from food banks, but this would really be for any not-for-profits that are serving food—as to how much their costs have gone up in terms of actually being able to serve the clients they serve. This is a way of looking to actually bring down the cost of food and to analyze how that could be applied, both for the cost of the food and also for the transportation of the food that is utilized for a program. Thank you.

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C-322, An Act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program

The Chair

08:23:37 a.m.
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The amendment is in order to be tabled. We now will have a discussion on the amendment that has been moved. I have Mr. Fragiskatos, on the amendment.

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