I've been working on this issue since the day after taking office as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. I'm in talks with departmental and CFIA experts, as well as my provincial counterparts and the various associations that represent grain farmers, specifically, canola farmers. Those discussions began immediately after I took office and have not stopped. Since the very beginning, we've been sharing a lot of information.
I can tell you that, when department officials initially told me about the science-based approach, I wanted to know what producers thought. I learned that support for the approach was unanimous. Everyone agreed on the importance of finding an evidence-based solution. Canada's agricultural products are of the highest quality, and we have an excellent reputation, which we must protect. We also have a robust food export inspection system, one of the world's best, so we need to protect it at all costs.
Chinese officials told us that they found impurities in our canola exports, so we want to know what they found. We did testing before the product was shipped and after, once the information about the samples came in, and we still haven't found anything.
The experts have to come together to discuss the matter. Currently, the discussions are happening over the phone and by video conference, but I sent my Chinese counterpart a letter asking if he would agree to host a delegation from CFIA to examine the matter in greater detail.