The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food has made 13 recommendations to the government of Canada that includes testimony from 29 stakeholders. 

Recommendations of note:

• The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada, in cooperation with the provinces and territories and taking into account regional differences in agricultural production, review its Business Risk Management programs before they expire in 2028 to ensure they are timely, responsive, and predictable for producers facing profitability challenges and climate change-related risks and that it identify and remove gaps in these programs for horticultural producers.

• Recommendations regarding the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, including for streamlining access for employers with long-term employment, coordinate efforts between federal departments to ensure employer compliance, improve agriculture facility inspection process to ensure inspections are administratively reasonable.

• Encourage the senate to adopt Bill C280 – Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act

• Lead a consultative process to implement a (voluntary) Grocery Code of Conduct

• Pause the proposed ban on plastic PLU labels and the P2 Notice for Primary food packaging to allow for more consultation

• Increase funding to Pest Management Centre

For the entire report, link here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/committees/en/AGRI/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=12441700

Source:  Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food June 19, 2024 news release