Bill C-387

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First Reading

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	1st Session, 36th Parliament, 46-47 Elizabeth II, 1997-98
	The House of Commons of Canada
	BILL C-387
	An Act to establish a national committee to develop policies and procedures to ensure coordination in the delivery of programs by governments in the case of agricultural losses or disasters created by weather or pests, the coordination of the delivery of information, assistance, relief and compensation and study the compliance of such programs with World Trade organization requirements
	Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short title	1. This Act may be cited as the National Agricultural Relief Coordination Act.
Definitions	2. The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
``Committee'' « comité »	``Committee'' means the National Safety Net Review Committee established by the Minister and continued by section 3.
``Minister'' « ministre »	``Minister'' means the Minister of Agriculture.
``protection program'' « programme de protection »	``protection program'' means a program established by or pursuant to one or more Acts of Parliament or of the legislature of a province that has as its purpose the protection of farmers from unusual losses incurred as a result of disasters or unusual conditions caused by weather or pests and includes crop insurance, flood and drought protection programs and the program known as the Net Income Stabilization Account.
``Standing Committee'' « comité permanent »	``Standing Committee'' means the Standing Committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider matters relating to agriculture.
Committee continued	3. The National Safety Net Review Committee created by the Minister is continued under this Act.
Objectives of Committee	4. The Committee shall, within two years of the coming into force of this Act
	(a) continue its objective to develop policies and procedures to coordinate the delivery of protection programs by the federal and provincial governments and the coordination of the delivery of information, assistance, relief and compensation; and
	(b) examine all protection programs and advise the Minister as to whether they comply with the requirements of the World Trade Organization.
Members continuing	5. (1) The Committee shall continue with the same membership as before the coming into force of this Act for a period of three months after this Act comes into force.
New members appointed	(2) With effect from the day three months after this Act comes into force, the Committee shall have up to twenty-one members being the persons nominated pursuant to subsection (3) who shall be appointed by the Minister for terms not exceeding three years.
Members nominated	3. Of the members of the Committee
	(a) three shall be nominated by the Minister;
	(b) one may be nominated by the minister of the Crown for each province responsible for matters relating to agriculture;
	(c) five shall be representative of farmers and be nominated by such organizations representing farmers as are selected by the Minister; and
	(d) three shall be representative of industry related to agricultural products and be nominated by such organizations representing that industry as are selected by the Minister.
Chair and Vice-Chair	(4) The Committee, at its first meeting, shall elect from among its membership a Chair and a Vice-Chair.
By-laws and meetings	(5) The Committee may adopt by-laws to govern its own procedures.
Members expenses	(6) The members of the Committee may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in attending to the meetings and business of the Committee as is authorized by order of the Governor in Council.
Powers of Committee	6. The Committee may
	(a) operate in subcommittees of no less than five members;
	(b) retain technical experts and counsel to assist it in its functions;
	(c) receive evidence on oath;
	(d) with the prior consent of the Minister, travel and hold public hearings; and
	(e) send one or more representatives to appear before the Standing Committee in order to present its draft proposals to the Standing Committee and receive the advice of the Standing Committee.
Reports	7. (1) The Committee may report to the Minister at any time on any subject within its mandate if it has first discussed its proposed report with the Standing Committee and shall report to the Minister by April 1 of every year on its functions during the previous calendar year and a final report when it has concluded its work in accordance with the time limit imposed by section 4.
Reports laid before Parliament	(2) The Minister shall cause every report received pursuant to subsection (1) to be laid before both Houses of Parliament no later than the fifth day on which the House sits after the day the report is received by the Minister.

Bill C-387

BILL C-387