Members of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee held a meeting on Friday, March 29 to further discuss the canola issue with China.
Last week, the Canola Council of Canada reported Chinese importers are no longer willing to purchase Canadian canola seed. China has also revoked the permits of two Canadian companies to export canola to China.
The emergency meeting was called by Conservative Members of Parliament Luc Berthold, Earl Dreeshen and Bev Shipley earlier this week.
During the meeting, it was decided the Ag Committee will hear from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and industry officials no later than Friday, April 5.
The Opposition members pushed to also have the Agriculture, International Trade and Foreign Affairs Ministers appear before the Committee, saying China's actions are politically motivated and the quality of Canadian canola is not in question.
However, Liberal members blocked the attempt with their majority, saying Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Minister Jim Carr are already scheduled to attend the International Trade Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 2 to study the revocation of Richardson International’s export registration by China.
The trade meeting was scheduled before news Viterra also had its permits suspended.
The Committee Chair said they will push to have the Ag Committee meeting sooner than April 5, taking into consideration the availability of the witnesses.
Source : Discoverairdrie