More information, more transparency is important.
First, I'd like to thank our witnesses for contributing to our study today.
We have already spent two hours on this issue. We've heard from officials from Health Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, as well as from multinationals in the pharmaceutical industry. We are now beginning the second half of our study.
This is not a black and white issue; it's extremely complex. I thoroughly appreciated your presentation, Ms. Bérubé. I think we need more time to make sure we consult all the experts. I, myself, am not an expert. I'm not a researcher, but we have to respect PMRA's decision because it is based on science. I am eager to read all the reports you mentioned, and it may be beneficial for the committee to invite other experts like Ms. Labrie.
I read an interesting article in Le Devoir yesterday about the study and the UN special rapporteur. In June, Quebec's commissioner of sustainable development determined that the province's ministry of sustainable development, the environment and the fight against climate change was not adequately monitoring the use of pesticides in the province. I believe the government of Quebec had pledged to reduce the use of pesticides by 25% by 2020-21. Clearly, we have some work to do.
Could you discuss the importance of conducting an in-depth study and ensuring that the committee, the agriculture working group, calls for more transparency? Furthermore, we should also hear from other organic farming groups on the reduction of pesticide use.