Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  Mr. Bellavance, I think you're quite right, that we have a very uneven system in terms of food safety across the country and in terms of traceability at this point as well. What the coalition is seeking is opportunities for governments and industry and other stakeholders to come to a consensus about where we should be trying to get to in the future.

Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  We certainly want that, and we certainly want a high degree of coordination and communication in times of crisis. Industry has seen some very good practices on the part of government in certain crisis situations in which there has been very good communication, but in other situations, as the case studies of these kinds of things will no doubt show, there has been less than optimal communication between governments and with the industry players.

Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  Well, I've been growing this one for a very long time and losing this one for almost as long. What we're looking for is a commitment on the part of governments to move towards that kind of an approach. There have been various initiatives in the past where governments have assigned officials to develop national codes, whether they were for horticulture, for dairy, or for retail and food service.

Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members. I would think that the best starting point for our answer, from the coalition's perspective, is that we are realists, even though we have put some very challenging suggestions before the committee and before governments about having a national coordinated approach.

Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  My apologies, Mr. Chair.

Subcommittee on Food Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members. Thank you for inviting the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition to appear during your hearings on this important subject. The coalition was formed in December 2000 and incorporated in 2007 to act as a single, strong voice for industry along the food chain, together with the public and government, on industry-wide food safety issues.