Nova Scotia Liberal MP Kody Blois will serve as the Commons Ag Chair with Conservative Alberta MP John Barlow and Bloc Quebecois MP Yves Perron as vice-chairs.

The committee held its first meeting last week with the Canada/U.S. trade dispute topping the agenda. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a ban on potato exports from Prince Edward Island following a couple of cases of potato wart. PEI producers say they have been managing the disease without issue for a couple of decades. It’s believed the United States placed pressure on the federal government to implement a ban until more tests could be done.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is expected to provide an update on the potato wart situation on Monday morning. She will participate in a video conference with members of the PEI caucus.

(Above picture: Kody Blois with John Barlow)