Agriculture Committee on May 31st, 2023

Evidence of meeting #65 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pmra.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Environmental Contribution of Agriculture

Closure of the Olymel Processing Plant in Vallée-Jonction

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Parthi Muthukumarasamy Executive Director, International Programs Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Frédéric Bissonnette Acting Executive Director, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Department of Health

Daniel Winter President, American Beekeeping Federation

Ted McKinney Chief Executive Officer, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Nancy Rheault Senior Director and Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Import/Export Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Stephen Pernal Research Scientist, Apiculture and Officer-in-Charge, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Science and Technology Branch, Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Connie Hart Senior Science Advisor, Environmental Assessment Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Department of Health

5:50 p.m.

Acting Executive Director, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Department of Health

Frédéric Bissonnette

For PMRA, I would say that we are very strong internationally. We work a lot with the EPA. We actually get most chemicals first here in Canada and the U.S.—sometimes a bit after the U.S.—because of our history of doing joint reviews with the U.S.

In my substantive position as chief registrar, I'm responsible for the premarket. The head of the delegations that we see and a lot of my colleagues around the table are quite jealous of the relationship we have with the U.S. We often get the products here first because of the big market that we have and the importance of both sides having the same chemicals.

We still have an active CUSMA working group with the U.S. and Mexico to make sure that competitiveness is considered.

May 31st, 2023 / 5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Kody Blois

Just quickly.... Will Bill S-6 actually allow you to draw different processes than you have now?

5:50 p.m.

Acting Executive Director, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Department of Health

Frédéric Bissonnette

I'm not familiar enough with all the changes, so we'll have to take that—

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Kody Blois

I don't want to take any more time from my colleagues, but from where I respectfully sit—and I appreciate that there are existing processes—the more work we can do in that domain, I think, really matters for farmers in terms of their having the tools to be competitive with their international partners.

I want to thank you for coming here before the committee. To our folks and friends at the CFIA, the PMRA and the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and to our American friends, thank you for taking the time. I think your perspectives were certainly welcomed, and we appreciate your joining the committee.

Mr. Winter with the American Beekeeping Federation and Mr. McKinney with NASDA, thanks so much. Enjoy Saskatchewan when you're up there in a few months.

Colleagues, we're going to suspend for five minutes. Please don't go far. I want to be able to get our committee work done.

Mr. Louis, please jump over as quickly as you can. We're going to get started.

Thanks.

[Proceedings continue in camera]