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Minutes of Meeting / Procès-verbal
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 24
 
Thursday, February 17, 2005
 

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 371 West Block, the Chair, Paul Steckle, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: David L. Anderson, Charlie Angus, James Bezan, Claude Drouin, Wayne Easter, Roger Gaudet, David Kilgour, Larry Miller, Denise Poirier-Rivard, Gerry Ritz, Paul Steckle and Rose-Marie Ur.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean-Denis Fréchette, Principal.

 

Witnesses: Canadian Meat Council: Jim Laws, Executive Director; Don Raymond, Director, Regulatory and Trade.

 

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

 

On motion of James Bezan, it was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food travel to the Riding Mountain National Park Region of Manitoba in the riding of Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, to study the progress of the RMNP Bovine Tuberculosis monitoring and eradication programs and review the implementation of past recommendations made by the Standing Committee.

 
Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Friday, December 10, 2004, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-27, An Act to regulate and prohibit certain activities related to food and other products to which the Acts under the administration of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency apply and to provide for the administration and enforcement of those Acts and to amend other Acts in consequence.
 

Jim Laws made a statement and with Don Raymond, answered questions.

 

The Committee resumed consideration of matters related the Committee business.

 

Charlie Angus moved, — 1) That the government of Canada develop skills and competence-related criteria for all government appointments, including Board Members and senior Officers of Crown Corporations and other government agencies, for which a Standing Committee has reviewing responsibility; and that this criteria specifically address the non-partisan nature of these appointments;

2) That the government then submit this criteria to each relevant Standing Committee of the House of Commons for consideration, and approval with amendment if necessary;

3) That the Government of Canada then publicly release, including publishing in the Canada Gazette, the committee-approved criteria for each appointment;

4) That the names and qualifications of each nominee for an appointed position be referred to the appropriate Standing Committee prior to the date of their appointment, with an explanation of how each nominee’s qualification has met the established criteria;

5) That each committee (which oversees appointments), unless it unanimously decides otherwise, shall have at least one full meeting every two months to review government nominees for appointment.

Principles to be upheld through discussions and amendment:

1) The establishment of skills based qualifications for every government appointment;

2) The submission of each nominee (before they are appointed) to the relevant committee along with an explanation of how their skills meet the established criteria for the job;

3) The process for review by the government and committee be transparent, accessible and well-publicized.

Debate arose thereon.

 

The Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-27, An Act to regulate and prohibit certain activities related to food and other products to which the Acts under the administration of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency apply and to provide for the administration and enforcement of those Acts and to amend other Acts in consequence.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

 

At 5:10 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Bibiane Ouellette
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2005/02/23 9:03 a.m.

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