Mr. Chairman, members of the standing committee, I would first like to say that I'm here on behalf of the Canadian Pork Council as well as on behalf of the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec. Thank you for having me today to give me an opportunity to discuss another issue of great concern that affects the Canadian pork industry, namely labelling and import rules.
During our last visit, we talked about the world-wide crisis of the pork industry over the past few years which has worsened over the past few months. You heard a great deal about the high costs of inputs, the spiralling rise in the Canadian dollar and the lack of cashflow among producers. We also underscored that one of the problems that remains in Canada and Quebec is the lack adequate identification of Canadian products. In fact, confusion reigns about the current identification of Canadian products. We are experiencing the same phenomenon in Quebec. Together with this, imported pork products are not subject to the same regulatory standards under which we raise and produce pork here.
We want all the products that we make to be identified correctly, whoever we may be in Canada and Quebec. This is a matter of accountability toward consumers and producers. We're at the point where we're all questioning current labelling of supposedly Canadian products. We're questioning the actual proportion of Canadian content. We're wondering also about the origin of these products. This is a major problem, particularly at a time when Canadian and Quebec consumers are increasingly concerned and interested in finding out the origin of the food they buy and consume. They are interested in the conditions in which the animals are raised. We note that consumers today, particularly in Canada and Quebec, are concerned by the environment, by the safety and cleanliness of food, by the processing and health of the animals and the prohibited use of certain pesticides or veterinary products.
The economic conditions that prevail in an industrialized country such as Canada are such that the working conditions that must be provided by agricultural companies to their workforce cannot rival with those offered in emerging economies such as China and Brazil. In brief, this is a matter of protection and control over what is sold on our supermarket shelves. This is a responsibility we all have toward the consumer.
We should make no mistake in this highly thorny and political issue. Certain considerations must certainly escape us. We all understand that the rules of the import game do not favour Canadian producers right now. We can see this easily just by going to a grocery store, where Canadian and Quebec products are sold at a higher price. On the one hand, exemplary behaviour is expected in Canada; our producers are expected to be beyond reproach. Here, we wash whiter than white, whereas similar products that are imported enter into Canada without being subject to the same rules, and they are sold for less in our grocery stores. Isn't that a double standard?
Of course, we're not here to dictate production rules for other countries. However, one must understand that these rules and standards considerably harm domestic producers. We do not wish to reduce the production standards that govern us in any way, shape or form. We are proud of them. However, we're asking the federal government to protect Canadian and Quebec consumers with regard to products that are imported here. I'm convinced that if Canadian consumers were aware of all these irregularities and implausibilities, they would require some assurance about the origin of the products they buy. In doing so, they would greatly favour Canadian products, which would ensure recognition of our products and the efforts that we've invested in them.
In your opinion, Mr. Chairman, is it normal to see "Product of Canada" on cartons of orange juice?
We all know full well that no oranges are grown in Canada. So how can you know? How can you explain to consumers the reasons behind such labelling? Because it's packaged here? So let's say that adequately, so that the consumer can make enlightened choices. In the mind of a consumer, when he sees the label "Product of Canada", can we blame him if he believes that this is an agricultural product of Canadian origin? This is a question of credibility and responsibility.
In Quebec, we hope to come up with clear identification of the origin of our products, in pork production. We want to see pork products bought at retailers labelled "Quebec". With all the efforts that we've made in promoting that product, it would be logical if the labelling was consistent. Consumers are more and more demanding in this regard, and we encourage them to find out about the origin of the pork products that they buy at the butcher.
You've undoubtedly noticed the importance that we attach to the products we sell and the way we produce them and sell them. Therefore, the federation is recommending tight controls over trade rules in order to allow domestic producers to succeed in this increasingly competitive international market. Let's all be on an equal footing.
Lastly, in order to ensure that consumers can recognize products produced here, that come from here and that are truly produced here, we recommend clear identification of Canada and Quebec products through adequate labelling.
Thank you for having given me the opportunity to present our position on this issue.