You're such a gentleman. Thank you.
Mr. Chair and honourable members, thank you for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada. GPAC is the national voice of greenhouse fruit and vegetable growers and a trusted partner in advancing Canada's economic competitiveness, food security and climate leadership.
Canada's greenhouse fruit and vegetable growers generate approximately $6.3 billion annually for Canada's economy and employ an estimated 41,000 people across the value chain. Canadian agriculture is a proven economic driver, yet the greenhouse fruit and vegetable sector currently navigates a structural double squeeze that positions primary producers between high market concentrations on both the input and the retail sides of their operations.
Greenhouse growers rely on integrated North American markets to grow their businesses, adopt new technologies and expand production. In turn, Canadians benefit from a reliable supply of fresh, nutritious, high-quality, sustainably grown domestic produce throughout the year.
Greenhouse agriculture is being asked to invest and grow during a time of rising pressures from geopolitical tensions, global climate change, extreme weather events and escalating trade pressures. For our members, there is a need to act with some urgency to prioritize food security. Industry and government must work together on pragmatic regulatory and fiscal interventions.
We are seeking support for the strategic priorities outlined in the three pillars of our “Greenhouse Investment Roadmap”. These would fuel economic competitiveness and trade resilience, prioritize food security and business risk management, and power climate-smart agriculture and innovation.
Without the strategic alignment of policy measures, greenhouse investment is at risk of being displaced to other North American jurisdictions and being outpaced by U.S. incentives and programming, which provide a friendlier business climate for major capital investment. We are seeking targeted, modernized programs that are effective at delivering at the scale our sector needs.
The greenhouse fruit and vegetable sector stands ready to deliver food security, and we look forward to your questions.
Thank you.