CropLife Canada statement on government response to Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee report on regulatory reform

CropLife Canada was pleased to see the government acknowledge its openness to including economic considerations as part of the mandate for the Pesticide Regulatory Directorate (formerly the Pest Management Regulatory Agency) in its response to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee’s recent report “Unleashing the Potential of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector through Regulatory Reform”. CropLife Canada, alongside value chain partners, has been calling for this change to ensure that the regulatory system continues to protect health and safety while also being an enabler of innovation in Canada.

However, it is disappointing to see the government’s overall response fall well short of matching the level of urgency and ambition laid out in the all-party committee report, which outlined a clear roadmap for unlocking growth, innovation and competitiveness in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. While the Prime Minister and his cabinet have set out a bold vision for red tape reduction to unleash investment and growth in Canada, there appears to be a disconnect between that vision and the actions at the departmental level.

If Canada is truly going to address the fact that it currently ranks 32 out of 38 member countries for administrative and regulatory burden according to the Organization for Economic Development, it will need a bold, clear plan of action moving forward. The departmental response to the committee’s recommendations largely identifies minor tweaks around the edges and maintenance of the status quo.

Canadian farmers should be among the first to access the latest innovations they need to prosper and deliver food security for Canadians and those around the world who rely on Canadian-grown food. Canada’s increasingly slow and unpredictable pesticide regulatory system is disincentivizing investment in Canada, hindering agricultural productivity and undermining our ability as a country to compete.

While there are significant factors impacting the agriculture and agri-food sector that are outside Canada’s control such as geopolitics and weather, regulatory reform is something the government can act on now that will have meaningful impacts on unleashing the potential of the industry.

CropLife Canada remains committed to working with the government towards a regulatory system that makes Canada among the most attractive markets in the world to invest while continuing to protect the health and safety of Canadians.