OTTAWA — Agriculture groups are praising a new bill meant to make new products like feed, seed and pest control available more quickly in Canada.
Bill C-273 would allow provisional approval for products like fertilizers and pesticides if already approved in at least two trusted jurisdictions. The private members bill was introduced by Bow River, Alta. Conservative MP David Bexte earlier this week.
Some farm groups have commended the bill, saying it could help modernize Canada’s regulatory environment.
Read Also
Iran says Strait of Hormuz open as Trump sees deal ‘soon’ to end war
The Iranian foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz was open on Friday following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, but shipping companies reacted cautiously.
WHY IT MATTERS: Agriculture groups say Bill C-273 would support Canadian farmers’ competitiveness on the global market.
“Improving the pace at which new products reach the market has long been a priority for the agriculture sector, which has consistently called for regulatory modernization to improve the timeliness, transparency and predictability of the agricultural innovation system,” Grain Growers of Canada said in a statement on April 16.
“Bill C-273 would help advance that objective by enabling faster adoption of innovation and supporting competitiveness across the sector.”
The Wheat Growers Association, in a Friday statement, called the bill “a necessary first step toward fixing Canada’s broken regulatory system.”
Association president Gunter Jochum called the legislation “a long-overdue signal that Canada is ready to start taking competitiveness seriously again.”
“Farmers are not asking for shortcuts. We are asking for timely access to tools our competitors are accessing and often using safely and effectively,” he added.
The Wheat Growers said the bill should be seen as a starting point for a modernized regulatory system.
“The opportunity in front of us is significant,” said Jochum. “Getting this right means better yields, stronger farms, more resilient supply chains, and a more competitive Canada.”
“We encourage all parties to work together to get it passed and build on it.”
Fertilizer Canada president and CEO Michael Bourque called the bill “a practical step toward modernizing Canada’s regulatory framework and ensuring farmers have the tools they need to grow healthy, hearty crops” in a Wednesday statement.
Bourque said the legislation could build on previous efforts to strengthen collaboration with regulators.
As a private members’ bill, C-273 could face an uphill climb.
“Private members’ bills face a difficult path, but (C-273’s) introduction reflects a shared recognition across party lines that Canada’s regulatory timelines need to improve,” Grain Growers of Canada told Glacier FarmMedia.
“Bill C-273 and the recent re-examination of bulk labelling requirements demonstrate a positive effort to reduce regulatory burden in agriculture, and we look forward to continuing to work with Parliamentarians to strengthen the industry.”
