A controversial government bill that proposes changes to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Act has passed second reading in the House of Commons.
Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, has been referred to the House of Commons’ standing committee on agriculture and agri-food.
Witnesses to speak at the committee hearings will be identified over the next two months to three months.
Committee clerk Jean Michel Roy said discussions at the committee level will not begin until September at the earliest.
Last December, the federal government introduced Bill C-18, a far-reaching bill that proposes amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Act.
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The proposed amendments would grant plant breeders and seed companies greater control over intellectual property and give them more flexibility in collecting royalties on the new seed products they develop.
Plant breeders generally support the proposed amendments.
However, some farm groups view them as an affront to farmer interests, saying they will restrict access to seed and increase production costs.
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz had indicated that he would like to see the bill enacted before the beginning of the 2014-15 crop year, which commences Aug. 1.
That deadline will not be met, but supporters of the proposed legislation say any progress on the bill is welcome.
“Amended plant breeders’ rights legislation will enhance the ability of Canadian producers to capitalize on exciting new opportunities in Canadian and international markets,” said Greg Porozni, chair of Cereals Canada.
“The amendments will foster investment and innovation in Canada by giving producers access to new, more productive crop varieties.”
Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, also welcomed the news that the bill had been referred to the committee level.
“We are pleased that the bill is now at the point in the process where we can engage in public discussion at committee,” Bonnett said in a news release.
“It boils down to making sure Canadian farmers are competitive and that we aren’t falling behind other countries. The legislation strikes a good balance between giving plant breeders the ability to receive a return on their investment and research efforts while preserving the ability of farmers to save, store and condition seed for their own use.”
