Thank you.
The amendment proposes modifying clause 5 by adding after line 35 on page 5 the following:
(3) The payment of royalties referred to in subsection (2) can only be required once, either when beginning to or ceasing to exercise the rights in respect of which the authorization is conferred under paragraph (1)(h). (4) It is not an offence to clean a protected variety of seeds for a third party and no person who does so may be compelled to reveal the names of their clients.
There are two parts to this amendment. First, we all know a lot of producers have come to committee and spoken to us about their concerns about the rising cost of seed inputs. It's also to talk about the possibility of royalty at every step of the process to ensure that the limits on them will be enforced.
The amendment gives plant breeders rights and producers the freedom to decide where and when they want to see the royalties kick in. Again, it's a more balanced approach when it comes to plant breeders' rights.
The second part of the amendment explicitly protects seed cleaners, taking them out of the awkward role of gatekeeping that the bill currently keeps them in. We are concerned about the long-term impact of Bill C-18. It's to make sure that we don't target seed cleaners, which is something that we're heard in our ridings and in consultations. That's what the two proposed subclauses are about.