Bill C-282 dominated some question period proceedings
The Bloc continued to push the government to pass Bill C-282.
On Oct. 7, BQ MP Alain Therrien asked if the government had the political will to pass the legislation, which removes supply management from future trade deals.
The bill is currently in the committee stage in the senate, which acts independently of the House.
And the BQ gave the Liberals until Oct. 29 to pass it, and a bill to increase payments to seniors, or the Bloc would work with other parties to bring down the minority government.
Agriculture Minister MacAulay reminded the House that a Liberal government implemented supply management in the first place.
“We supported Bill C-282. We urge the other place to move on this legislation,” the minister said.
Another exchange about C-282 happened between Yves Perron, the BQ’s agriculture critic, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, the minister of national revenue and former minister of agriculture.
Perron pointed out that Senators Peter Boehm and Peter Harder, who are Liberal appointees, are blocking the bill, and said their actions go against the will of the House.
Bibeau told the House that the Liberals and Bloc support supply management, but the Conservatives don’t. She also reminded MPs that the senate is independent.
For clarity, 56 Conservative MPs voted in favour of the bill in its third reading in June 2023.
In his follow-up question, Perron wanted assurances the government would ensure the senators would “respect democracy” and get the bill passed.
Jean-Yves Duclos, the minister of public services and procurement, repeated previous talking points about support for supply management.
Perron asked a third time for the government to ensure C-282 is passed, because farmers want it passed.
“There is a consensus among producers in Quebec and Canada: This is good for everyone,” he said.
Minister Bibeau’s reply reminded MPs the bill is in the senate and the government expects it to be dealt with.
On Oct. 8, Therrien continued pressing the government to get Bill C-2822 across the finish line.
“The Senate has been studying one clause for over a year. How can that be?” he said.
Minister Bibeau’s response reminded the House that the Liberals support supply management and that the senate is independent.
On Oct. 9, Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet used part of his time in the House to ask the government if it still supports supply management.
“Does the government still agree that supply management, which is so important to farmers, should be excluded from all future trade agreements?” he said.
Minister MacAulay responded.
The government supports supply management, Bill C-282, and wants the senate to move quickly on the legislation, he said.
In his follow-up, Blanchet said that since the Liberals won’t get involved, “the government is turning its back on farmers in Quebec and Canada, is it not?”
Minister Bibeau fielded the question.
She said the government has always been there for dairy farmers and will continue to be there for them.
In another exchange, Blanchet accused the Liberals of turning their backs on farmers.
Minister Bibeau’s response indicated the government is “100% behind the supply management system and 100% behind our dairy, poultry and egg farmers.”
On Oct. 10, Claude DeBellefeuille, the Bloc MP for Salaberry—Suroît, said Bill C-282’s delay in the senate by two appointed senators is “subverting democracy,” and urged the Liberals to take action.
Minister MacAulay repeated the government’s support for supply management and encouraged senators to give the bill royal assent.
Perron continued to question the government on C-282 as well.
Each time, Minister Bibeau indicated the Liberals support supply management and urge senators to pass the bill and recognize the fact that a majority of MPs want the bill to proceed.
Oct. 11 proved no different as the Bloc continued its demands to have C-282 passed.
With each question about C-282, the Liberal response was that they support supply management, support the bill, and want senators to do their work to advance it.