Advisory Committee

Introduction to CART’s Advisory Committee

In early January of 2023, the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal (CART) created an External Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee (Committee).

On this page, we are posting the Committee’s:

The Committee’s Terms of Reference

PDF icon Terms of Reference PDF (129KB)

Objective

The Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal (the Tribunal)’s Advisory Committee (Committee) assists the Tribunal in ensuring that its procedures and practices are as fair, accessible, and efficient as possible.

Mandate

The Committee is a forum where:

  • The Tribunal may share and obtain feedback on its organizational priorities;
  • The Tribunal may consult members on proposed changes to its operations or policies, as appropriate;
  • Members may provide comment and advice on current and emerging issues relating to the Tribunal’s operations as they affect the people who use the Tribunal’s services; and
  • Members may provide comment and advice on the Tribunal’s approach to engagement and communications about its work, including its forms, informational material, and the publication of its decisions.

The Committee does not discuss the merits of individual cases.

So that the Committee functions in an atmosphere that encourages candor, members of the Committee maintain reasonable discretion and confidentiality with respect to Committee discussions.

The Tribunal may report back to the Committee on the topics discussed at Committee meetings (for example, on changes to Tribunal practices resulting from feedback provided from the Committee).

Composition

The Committee’s membership includes at least four representatives from organizations that represent the Tribunal’s most common applicants (for example, abattoirs, live animal transportation companies, farmers, animal product importers, and unrepresented litigants).

The Tribunal’s two most common respondents, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency, each have one representative participate as observers.

The Tribunal’s Chairperson, one of the Tribunal’s regular adjudicators, one of the Tribunal’s lawyers, and the Tribunal’s Registrar are members of the Committee.

Structure and Terms

Members of the Advisory Committee are invited by the Tribunal to participate based on their expertise or history with the issues that come before the Tribunal.

All Committee Members are asked to serve on a voluntary basis for two-year renewable terms.

One Committee Member is elected by the Committee Members to serve as Chair of the Committee for a two-year renewable term. The Committee’s Chair may appoint vice-chairs as required.

The Committee may strike and structure subcommittees to address specific issues as required.

Committee Members are responsible for their own expenses for activities related to their participation in the Committee.

The Committee will meet at least once per year.

The Tribunal’s Chair and the Committee’s Chair coordinate to set the agenda and schedule of the Advisory Committee.

The Tribunal’s Registry performs secretariat functions in support of the Committee.

(Finalized March of 2023)

Current Membership of the Committee

The members of the Advisory Committee for the 2023-2025 period are:

  • Emily Crocco, Chairperson at CART
  • Geneviève Parent, Adjudicator at CART
  • Maria El-Hachem, Senior Counsel at CART
  • Frédéric Lapointe, Registrar at CART

  • Pierre Lampron, Chair of the Advisory Committee, President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada and Second Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Robin Horel, Advisor for the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
  • Jorge Correa, Vice-President of Market Access and Technical Affairs of the Canadian Meat Council
  • Moya McAlister, Communications Manager of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project
  • Russell Reitsema, Vice-Chair of BC Young Farmers

  • Sherri-Lynn Foran, Director of Enforcement Appeals and Litigation Division at CBSA
  • Melanie Nobre, Manager of National Enforcement and Investigations Office at CFIA

Committee Meeting Minutes

The Committee’s Minutes from its meetings will be posted here.


April 17, 2023

April 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. ET via Zoom

PDF icon Minutes PDF (228KB)

Attendance:

  • Emily Crocco, Chairperson of CART
  • Pierre Lampron, Chair of the Advisory Committee and Second-Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Claudia Larocque, Business Administration Officer, CART
  • Erica Charlton, Technical Director, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processing Council
  • Frédéric Lapointe, Registrar, CART
  • Geneviève Parent, Member of CART
  • Jorge Correa, Vice-President of Market Access and Technical Affairs, Canadian Meat Council
  • Maria El-Hachem, Senior Counsel, CART
  • Melanie Nobre, Manager of National Enforcement and Investigations Office at CFIA
  • Sherri-Lynn Foran, Director of Enforcement Appeals and Litigation Division at CBSA

Regrets:

  • Moya McAlister, Communications Manager, National Self-Represented Litigants Project

1. Welcome and Gratitude

Ms. Crocco thanked participants for helping with the Advisory Committee (AC); she indicated that their time and effort are appreciated.

Ms. Crocco said that she envisions making multiple changes to the current CART policies and this is why the Committee was created and why the members’ participation on the AC will be critical.

2. Roundtable Introductions

Members introduced themselves.

3. Vision for Advisory Committee

Ms. Crocco said that her vision is to have the AC discuss the changes to CART’s procedures that it is contemplating, and to discuss changes that CART hasn’t yet contemplated but should. The focus will be to ensure that CART’s process is fair, timely, and accessible to all Canadians.

Information about the AC’s mandate will be published on CART’s website.

For transparency reasons, CART intends to publish the identity of the people who are members of the AC. When asked, no AC members raised any concerns about the intention.

The AC will not speak about the merits of any case, given that two of its members are adjudicators who need to remain impartial about matters that are, or may come, before CART.

Action - CART will share draft changes to its policies and guidelines with AC members in the coming months.

4. Discussion of Draft Terms of Reference

There were no suggested changes to the AC’s draft Terms of Reference.

Ms. Crocco added that when documents are circulated for comment within the AC, members should feel free to be as detailed or general with their feedback as they like. She also said that the feedback could be sent directly to CART via email or shared at a subsequent AC meeting.

5. Election of Chair of Advisory Committee

Ms. Crocco said that CART is seeking someone to be the Chair of the AC. Pursuant to the Terms of Reference, the Chair will help the AC develop its focus. The Chair will also liaise with CART for the organization and management of the AC’s meetings.

Ms. Parent nominated Mr. Lampron because he represents the producers, entrepreneurs, and farmers that appear before CART. Mr. Lampron agreed to the nomination. Mr. Lampron was unanimously elected the Chair of the AC.

6. Virtual-First Oral Hearings Policy

Ms. Crocco shared that CART recently changed its policies to make it a “virtual-first” tribunal. This means that its oral hearings will be held virtually unless there are exceptional reasons to hold an oral hearing in person. Ms. Crocco sought the AC’s thoughts on this change.

Ms. Charlton indicated that reliable internet connections are less of an issue for farmers across the country. She said that in very few remote locations there may still be some issues, but nothing major.

Mr. Lampron said that sometimes virtual meetings can be difficult where interpreters are used.

Ms. Foran and Ms. Nobre indicated that their agencies fully support virtual-first hearings. However, Ms. Foran shared that the CBSA employees cannot access Zoom using the CBSA network, and therefore would prefer Teams in general.

7. Next Meeting Dates

Ms. Crocco indicated that for the next 2 years, the AC will meet 3 times a year: in September, January and late April or early May. She said that meeting regularly will permit the AC to consult on draft changes to policies.

The meetings will typically be one hour in duration.

If members are unable to attend a meeting, they are welcome to send a delegate.

Members may also be asked for ad hoc feedback on items in between the scheduled meetings.

8. Additional Member

Ms. Crocco indicated that she is looking for one more member of the AC who would bring a perspective of a young, racialized farmer. Members were asked to advise Ms. Crocco if they have ideas of anyone who might fit this description who would be interested in joining the AC.

In the next week, invitations will be sent out to AC members for the next three meeting dates.