These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Mr. Barry Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha
Lakes—Brock, CPC): Mr. Speaker, farmers across Canada are burdened
by increasing government interference in their lives. They are concerned
about the way the Canadian Food Inspection Agency goes about its business.
Bill C-27 should be
focused on reorganizing the CFIA to make it more accountable and
responsive to producers. Bill C-27 does not include any significant
appeals process for producers. Can the minister tell us why?
Hon. Andy Mitchell
(Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I need to
point out to the hon. member that Bill C-27 was referred to committee
before second reading. That provided members of the House, government
members and indeed opposition members as well, the opportunity to shape
the legislation in the way they felt was best. If there are specific
recommendations that he would like to see in that legislation, I suggest
that the hon. member come to committee and lay on the table amendments to
achieve that.
Mr. Barry Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha
Lakes—Brock, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the minister does
not have any problem with improving the appeals process as it is currently
included in the flawed bill.
Is the minister prepared
to stand in the House today and make his commitment to the farmers of
Canada that he will urge government members on that committee to make sure
there is a real and meaningful appeals process for the farmers so they do
not have to be dragged through the courts when they disagree with a CFIA
decision?
Hon. Andy Mitchell
(Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the
problem is that the hon. member fundamentally misunderstands how the
process works. When a bill is referred to committee before second reading,
a process which the opposition has encouraged the government to do on an
ongoing basis and which the government did in this case, it gives the
committee the opportunity to shape the legislation.
The committee is in the
process of doing that work. I look forward to the committee completing
that work in the near future.
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