Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In response to the question, in particular with respect to tampering, there are explicit authorities in the bill in regard to tampering or those who threaten to tamper with food commodities. The increased fines and penalties for these offences are clearly detailed in the bill.
For summary conviction, a first offence would be a $500,000 fine and/or 18 months' imprisonment. For a summary conviction on a subsequent offence, it's a fine of $1 million and a two-year imprisonment. For an indictable offence for this category of offence, it would be an unlimited fine and/or five years' imprisonment.
Mr. Chair, I would just point out for the member that the measures on anti-tampering and threatening to tamper were both issues that were raised in our consultations on the bill. These were identified as an important enhancement. The Criminal Code currently covers tampering as mischief, but the explicit authorities that are in the Safe Food for Canadians Act give greater legal assurance and enhanced authorities to prosecute tampering and threatening situations.