Thank you very much.
There are some great opportunities for Canada to grow our value-added food sector. This is going to require a new approach from CFIA. In particular the agency needs to ensure that regulations don't weigh down performance, productivity and growth. More than that, Canada's regulatory approach should work to stimulate some nimbleness and innovation and this should be acting as a catalyst for new value-added products.
Of course, when we look at what is happening right now as far as the concerns we have in the agriculture community, this is an important time for CFIA to commit to some changes in certain regulatory systems so we can find these efficiencies that are so important.
Will CFIA be using this time of great change to search for new approaches, to move forward with a new approach to regulations that will put innovation first while still safeguarding the health and safety of Canadians?
Is CFIA using this time to search for ways to ensure that firms in Canada's agri-food sector are not constantly being stymied by a “tons of feathers” regulatory approach whereby hundreds of regulations stop them in their tracks and make us less competitive on the world market?