Agriculture committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen, I am Michel Arnold, the CEO of Option Consommateurs. I am accompanied by Mr. François Décary-Gilardeau, the agri-food analyst for our organization, First, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our

Finance committee  I believe that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is playing its role. Of course, the various roles played by the various crown corporations can always be improved. Our second recommendation is very significant with respect to accountability mechanisms that financial ins

Finance committee  As regards those who advise us on complex financial products, last year, Option consommateurs carried out an investigation on financial advisers in Quebec. According to this inquiry, half of all financial advisers do not request basic information to advise a consumer. For example

Finance committee  We represent consumers but we also represent taxpayers. So we think that the $75 billion that has been loaned and the guarantees provided to the banks come from taxpayers' pockets. Accordingly, we are asking for transparent rules regarding these various programs and we are also a

Finance committee  We are recommending that the government ensure that the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation have the means to ensure that investors are protected should these financial institutions go bankrupt.

Finance committee  Mr. Chairman and members, it is my turn to thank you for inviting us to present our comments and recommendations regarding the government assistance to the Canadian financial sector, particularly with respect to access to credit for individuals, the protection of savings and the

Agriculture committee  Indeed, for a single product that has not been processed, that may be a good idea, provided it is specified that “Grown in Canada” does not necessarily mean “Product of Canada.” That is why we have to provide clear information to the consumer on the meaning of “Grown in Canada” a

Agriculture committee  I know from experience that voluntary codes are very difficult to enforce. It requires a lot of commitment on everyone’s part. So it is a challenge to use a voluntary code, whereas mandatory regulation is always simpler.

Agriculture committee  I am not sure I understand the question. Can you repeat it?

Agriculture committee  The important thing in what we are saying is not just the simplification, but also the clarification of the terms, what we mean by the terms put on the label.

Agriculture committee  Actually, we should tell the truth. They were grown in Spain. If they were packaged in Canada, they were packaged in Canada. If they were processed differently, let us simply say so. We need the truth.

Agriculture committee  No.

Agriculture committee  I think the same thing as Nalini. Thank you.

Agriculture committee  I think that we must also take into consideration the fact that close to half of the Canadian population has illiteracy problems. We must not complicate things any more. We must really tighten things up and explain what already exists.

Agriculture committee  As I said earlier in response to Mr. Boshcoff, it is very important that information be clear and precise. Consumers must have a clear idea of what the term on the label means, whether it is “Prepared in Canada,” “Product of Canada” or “Grown in Canada.” Of course, as Nalini sai