Finance Committee on June 1st, 2026

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

What was that definition?

[Jay Holmes]

Considering food security, in terms of the CFIA's new mandate, means that we'll have to look at issues of having enough food to eat in a particular region or across the country in a specific situation. The foundation of it is having access to food for Canadians but noting, too, that there are a number of definitions of this term.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Can we get any more...? What does it mean to you? If you're reading that and have to defend it, as you are now, what speaks to Canadians when it comes to food security?

We have two million people lining up at food banks right now. I'll remind you that food is kind of scarce in Canada. It's unbelievably so.

What would the definition of food security be for this government?

[Jay Holmes]

I can give you two examples of when the CFIA dealt with food security issues in the past.

Number one was during the floods in B.C. The CFIA was made aware that there was the potential for a shortage of food in areas of British Columbia, and the CFIA took steps to make sure that there was enough food available to eat.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I have another definition for you.

Mr. Holmes, Bill C-30 uses the term “economic security”. However, the term is not defined in the legislation. What is the definition of economic security according to the government?

[Jay Holmes]

When the CFIA has in the past...or in the future, when we do consider or bring economic—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Is it the past or the future? What are we talking about here? We're talking about Bill C-30.

[Jay Holmes]

With respect to Bill C-30, when the CFIA makes regulatory decisions, the CFIA will consider economic factors that are brought to our attention, such as the potential for a disproportionate effect of certain decisions on small businesses. That will be considered along with what are our paramount considerations—food safety, animal health and plant health—to make sure that the CFIA maintains a strong science and regulatory base to its decisions while also considering these relevant factors.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Okay. Mr. Holmes, Bill C-30 also uses the term “seriously detrimental infestation”. However, the term is not defined. What is the definition of a seriously detrimental infestation according to the government?

[Jay Holmes]

Thank you, Chair. I'll have to defer to my colleagues at the Department of Health.

[Shannon Laforce]

Hello. I am Shannon Laforce from the pesticides program at Health Canada. Thank you for the question.

Right now, we have a definition in our legislation that defines it as part of our emergency registrations. However, in Bill C-30, we're currently in the process of more formally defining those. They will be defined in policy. It was intentional not to have put them in the wording of the legislation. We are currently working to make sure that they are defined in policy and have committed to putting that in writing.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Are they not defined right now?

[Shannon Laforce]

They are currently under development. They're not finalized.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

You're asking us to make a decision on legislation when we have no definitions. We have a definition at least for one that we found out, but how many other definitions are not defined yet? Obviously, we have question marks around the other terms I've just asked about: economic security and food security. Are there no definitions for them?

[Shannon Laforce]

We're going to be building on the definitions in the policy and legislation that we currently have in place, but in the context of Bill C-30, we are refining those definitions in the new context of the bill.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Okay, thank you.

Ms. Laforce, the Canada disability benefit uses the same definition of disability as the Accessible Canada Act, which includes people with episodic disabilities like multiple sclerosis. However, the disability tax credit, which you need to access the Canada disability benefit, still requires that a person demonstrate, and I quote, a “marked restriction” 90% of the time.

You have a situation in which the government's own legislation says someone with MS qualifies for the Canada disability benefit, but the CRA's interpretation of the disability tax credit says they may not qualify for the very credential they need to access. Why is this not addressed?

[Shannon Laforce]

Unfortunately, I am from the pesticides regulatory program and not the pharmaceutical or another part of health. I am not the expert who can answer that question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thanks, Ms. Laforce and Mr. Mazier. We're going to have to conclude there. That concludes your time. We can perhaps ask Health Canada to give you a written response for that.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Yes, that would be great. People with MS have come into my office and asked for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Mr. Lavoie, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My first question is for the Department of Finance officials. I will then have questions for the Transport Canada officials.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Could Department of Finance officials please make their way up as soon as possible? Thank you.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Good morning.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here.

We know that the government has made internal trade a priority. There has been talk of removing interprovincial trade barriers. This was also mentioned in the economic update, which identifies internal trade as a key driver of economic growth.

I would like an update. Where are we at with interprovincial barriers?

Is there any progress? Have there been any concrete advances?

[Gervais Coulombe]

I'm afraid, again, that we can't answer that question. This is a measure that is in the economic statement and that colleagues are currently working on, but it's not a measure included in Bill C‑30.

Unfortunately, we couldn't bring the entire department here. To my knowledge, there is no official in the room who can answer that question.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

In the economic update, however, internal trade is presented as an important lever for economic growth.

Aren't internal trade and interprovincial barriers the same thing?