Mr. Olson, in terms of the food safety protocols, you mentioned the words “rational” and “practical”, which seems difficult in this town. I'm not sure who else it was who talked about the requirement for import products to have to meet the same standards as we do.
My question is really to the group as a whole, whoever can answer it.
I think we're finding--not only, Mr. Chair, at this particular committee, but at the regular standing committee as well--that Canadian producers.... It doesn't seem to matter what they're in--Dawn mentioned veterinarian drugs--our system is slower. As a result, it hurts our competitiveness. We have regulatory requirements on food products and safety standards, yet the countries we compete against that are sending product in here don't seem to have the same requirements, and yet their products end up on our shelves. Product from countries that are using different veterinarian drugs that are not approved within Canada--in fact, a lot of American pork--is on our shelves these days.
How do we get around that? How do we get to a system that, as you say, Thomas, is rational and practical, not overburdensome, but has the requirements that are there in terms of meeting the needs of Canadians and food safety? Do you have any suggestions?