Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
Name	Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
Type	Parliamentary committee
Jurisdiction	Agriculture and agri-food policy

Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is a legislative committee of the Parliament of Canada charged with examination of matters related to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian agriculture policy, and legislation affecting producers and processors. Members review proposals from the Cabinet of Canada, scrutinize initiatives from ministers such as the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Canada), and engage with stakeholders including the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, National Farmers Union, and provincial bodies like Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Mandate and Jurisdiction

The committee’s mandate is derived from the Standing Orders of the House of Commons of Canada and covers statutes administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, programs such as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, and agencies including the Canadian Grain Commission, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Branch, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It studies bills introduced in the House of Commons of Canada, examines estimates related to the Department of Finance (Canada) allocations for agricultural initiatives, and reviews international arrangements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement that affect market access for commodities such as wheat, canola, and dairy.

Membership and Leadership

Membership comprises Members of Parliament appointed by party whips from delegations such as the Liberal Party of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada, New Democratic Party, and occasionally members from the Bloc Québécois or Green Party of Canada. The chair is elected by committee members and has been held historically by MPs representing rural ridings with ties to organizations like the National Farmers Union or provincial associations including the Alberta Federation of Agriculture. Subcommittees and clerks coordinate with the Library of Parliament and committee secretariats to manage agendas, witnesses, and reports.

Activities and Proceedings

Proceedings include clause-by-clause study of bills such as agricultural amendments, pre-budget consultations with the Department of Finance (Canada), and study mandates on issues like supply management, risk management programs, animal health, and biosecurity. The committee summons witnesses from entities like the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Grain Growers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and research institutions including the National Research Council (Canada) and various provincial agricultural colleges. Meetings are governed by the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and documented by the committee clerk, with transcripts often appearing in the House of Commons Procedure and Practice records.

Reports and Recommendations

Reports produced by the committee address policy areas such as crop insurance design, trade remedy measures, research funding, and sustainability programs; they may recommend legislative amendments, funding reallocations to departments like Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, or collaboration with international bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Trade Organization. Recommendations have influenced statutes including amendments to the Canada Grain Act and measures affecting the Canadian Dairy Commission framework. Reports are tabled in the House of Commons of Canada and can prompt ministerial responses, parliamentary debate, and incorporation into bills introduced by the Cabinet of Canada.

History and Evolution

The committee evolved through parliamentary practice from earlier legislative review bodies dealing with agrarian issues, responding to crises such as the Great Depression agricultural collapse and post-war agricultural modernization, and later adapting to trade negotiations exemplified by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Its remit expanded with the creation of federal institutions like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the reform of supply management regimes; the committee’s studies have paralleled technological shifts in crop genetics involving institutions such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and policy debates reflected in commissions like the Royal Commission on Agriculture-style inquiries. Changes in party representation and regional priorities—whether Atlantic fisheries intersections, Prairie grain policies, or British Columbia specialty crops—have shaped its agenda.

Relationship with Stakeholders and Agencies

The committee maintains formal and informal links with stakeholder organizations including the Canadian Pork Council, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Horticultural Council, provincial departments such as Manitoba Agriculture, research networks like the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Branch, and regulatory bodies including the Canadian Grain Commission and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It conducts stakeholder consultations, roundtables with producers represented by unions and associations, and joint meetings with other committees when topics cross into areas overseen by the Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, or committees addressing indigenous issues such as the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

Category:Committees of the House of Commons of Canada Category:Agriculture in Canada