SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Dave Epp

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 21, 2022
Context: Bill S-211 (FAAE) - Nov/21/22
Mr. Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington, CPC)
  • 04:28:43 p.m.
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Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the witnesses. I'm going to begin with a statement to Mr. Dumas. I appreciated your comments clarifying child labour. With my own background, growing up on a family farm, my parents did not interfere with my education, and the four daughters on our own farm were raised with love and an encouragement to work. So I understand those nuances. I have not brought tomatoes to this committee yet, but I will today, because that is my background. I'd like to go to Mr. Brown, please. The world produces about 37.2 million tonnes of processed tomato products. China did 6.2 million tonnes last year, of which five million came from Xinjiang province. There are certainly allegations of forced labour from the Uighur population, particularly in the tomato industry. I'm wondering if you have any comments or any specific knowledge regarding exactly the extent of that. I grew up hand-picking tomatoes and my kids grew up on a machine. My understanding is that most of the production is hand-harvested and forced in China. Do you have any comments specifically on the tomato industry?
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Context: Bill S-211 (FAAE) - Nov/21/22
Mr. Dave Epp
  • 04:30:11 p.m.
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Thank you. Regarding the exemption to import prohibition from companies, how would you work with that if COFCO, which happens to be one of the main tomato purchasers in Xinjiang, is a state-owned enterprise?
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Context: Bill S-211 (FAAE) - Nov/21/22
Mr. Dave Epp
  • 04:31:08 p.m.
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Thank you. In my remaining time, I'd like to go Mr. Thomas, please. Can you talk a little bit more about the impact of threshold for reporting in this legislation, and what are the opportunities to get at the intent of this legislation with companies? I'm thinking about small tomato importers in Canada that might not meet that threshold.
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Context: Bill S-211 (FAAE) - Nov/21/22
Mr. Dave Epp
  • 04:32:11 p.m.
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Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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