Evidence of meeting #24 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was deal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Mr. Gorrell, could you answer the question?
I'm not suggesting anybody here is doing that. I'm asking you, is that helpful?
3:55 p.m.
Director General, Market Access Secretariat, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
In my opinion, the more there is discussion about questions of the Canadian food system domestically, the more difficult it is for me and others to have market access internationally.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you very much.
Mr. Tierney, you talked about the 13 markets around the world. I'm not asking you to list them off, but could you submit a written list of those markets, of what we have in place?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Absolutely.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
That would be beneficial.
I'm not sure if you can answer this question. We've had a lot of accomplishments, a lot of successes in the last several years, particularly, as my colleague pointed out, since Minister Ritz has been on the file.
Moving forward, what would you say our most significant market is that we're going after? Is there one where we have a priority?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
It really depends on the sector. The meat market in Russia is incredibly important—pork and beef. The Chinese market, especially in canola, the Indian and Turkish markets in pulses.... There is Japan, for soybeans and processed foods, and wheat, of course, in quite a number of countries around the world.
All in all, we're trying to go after all of them in a balanced fashion, taking our lead, in large part, from industry.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Mr. Mayers, CFIA has a fairly robust role within the Market Access Secretariat now, as I understand. Could you maybe tell the committee a little bit about the new role CFIA has with that and share your thoughts on how beneficial it has been?
4 p.m.
Associate Vice-President, Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Thank you for the question.
We're often asked, as a regulator, what possible role we play in terms of market access, but the foundation of effective market access is confidence on the part of the importing country in the exporting country's ability to deliver for them safe, efficacious product. And that is the role of CFIA as a regulator.
So we collaborate with our colleagues in Agriculture and Agri-Food, within the Market Access Secretariat. That combination is somewhat unique, in that we have the ability, therefore, as a country to position, when we explore market access, the sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues in a context for the importing country that gives them confidence that what they import from Canada is not only a great product in terms of quality, but they can be assured that this product meets their expectations in terms of the protection of their consumers. That's the role we embrace as an agency: positioning the regulatory system in delivering that, not just for Canadians but for those who enjoy Canadian products abroad.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you very much.
This is my last question, gentlemen. Mr. Tierney, perhaps you could answer the question I have with regard to better integrating our internal market and maximizing its use. What's the biggest inhibitor we have in facilitating that?
4 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
I don't know if this is the biggest inhibitor, but we've started looking at some fruit and vegetable regulations, such as packaging sizes and quality standards, that can differ across the country. We have found it's a big world out there, and food processors and horticultural producers need first to be able to start off domestically, regionally really, with local food. To go from there to international export is a huge leap. To get them to be able to export outside the region into other provinces, neighbouring provinces and so on, is probably an important step to moving toward becoming an exporter. Farmers and food processors typically want to grow. So it's looking at the horticulture regulations, and fruit and vegetable regulations are a starting point.
4 p.m.
Conservative
4 p.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is for both Mr. Tierney and Mr. Gorrell.
We know that the Market Access Secretariat has a mandate to coordinate government initiatives with those of industry, the provinces and the territories in order to meet the interests of all agricultural sectors. However, in Quebec, the demand for the local product and organic product sectors both within and outside the country has been growing.
What programs have been implemented and what efforts are being made by the secretariat to help these two rapidly expanding sectors?
4 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
In the organic sector, we've been negotiating the organic equivalency agreements with several countries. Mr. Gorrell could probably tell you which ones, because I'm going to mix up the ones we've concluded agreements with and the ones where we're negotiating agreements. But that's certainly been helpful to the industry.
I'll let Mr. Gorrell answer the other part of your question.
4 p.m.
Director General, Market Access Secretariat, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
We have equivalency agreements with the U.S. and the EU, and I believe also with Japan. These are areas that are clearly growth markets for it, so there is a great opportunity. Our industry is well positioned.
Relative to your question on “buy local”, I don't think we have any specific programs. It's usually intraprovincial. So it would not be something I would look at. I would be looking at international. But there are definitely programs on the biologique. And we're supporting it quite well.
4 p.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
For local products, should we have a national plan with Growing Forward?
4 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
That will be something, I'm sure—
4 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
That will be part of the discussions on the Growing Forward 2 framework and the kinds of consultations they'll be doing.
On the trade side, if you're buying local, you're not trading.
4 p.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
Does the secretariat have adequate resources to help our industry develop these two emerging markets?
4:05 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food
We are quite happy with the resources the government has given us. We have sufficient resources, given the various priorities of the government.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
My next question is for Mr. Mayers.
What marketing tools do you have for small producers to help them market new products? This too is a growing sector with a promising future, thanks primarily to the arrival of immigrants who are asking for new products. Earlier, we talked about food safety. What marketing tools, with respect to certification, can you offer to reassure consumers and give them confidence in these new products?
4:05 p.m.
Associate Vice-President, Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Thank you very much for the question.
There are two aspects to the question. The first is in terms of innovative products that reach the marketplace. We work very closely with Health Canada around new products coming into the marketplace, and depending on the particular product type, there may even be pre-market reviews of products, which enhance consumer confidence in those products before they reach the marketplace. As well, the special needs of small and medium-sized enterprises are also important to us because we recognize that for small and medium-sized enterprises, the cost of compliance can often be a barrier to their growth. This is something that we've been paying particular attention to.
The recent report of the Red Tape Reduction Commission presents an important set of recommendations that we are carefully considering as we look forward as an organization. We have been working in the meat sector, for example, looking at shifting the currently very prescriptive model, which serves as a barrier for some small enterprises, towards a more outcome-based model that might be better tailored, therefore, to the unique characteristics of a small enterprise, in order to promote their capacity to enter into, for example, interprovincial trade as a first step, and, if they wish, on to international trade as well through federal registration.
