Good afternoon, Mr. Chair.

Members of the committee, as citizens, we are all concerned about the financial health of the state. In this context, we won't be submitting requests that would have the effect of increasing the pressure on the current situation. Instead, we will focus our recommendations on the efficiency of the state's human and financial resources, to ensure that the population's food resilience lives up to its expectations. For us, the issue is paramount. The government must set clear performance targets for its public policies, particularly those that direct it towards measures that have concrete and direct effects on the competitiveness of our businesses, while preserving the collective interest.

First, let's address the issue of fairness. As we have repeatedly stated, it is imperative to strengthen controls on imported fruits and vegetables. Canadian regulations do not provide for the same requirements and control measures for companies growing fruit and vegetables in Canada as for imported products. The Safe Food for Canadians Act is just one example. This law imposes numerous traceability requirements on local producers. Numerous inspections and controls are carried out to verify producers' compliance with the act. However, in the case of imports, reliance is placed on importers rather than directly on producers. In our opinion, this is unfair. It is becoming increasingly urgent to document situations of unfair competition. In this respect, our proposals do not involve additional or extraordinary expenditures. We are simply asking for a reallocation of existing resources so that border controls related to food safety, phytosanitary protection and the presence of pesticide residues are strengthened in order to better protect Canadians and ensure fairness in the treatment of imported and domestically produced foods.

Second, let's talk about regulatory distortion. Regulatory distortion occurs when Canadian requirements affect the competitiveness of local businesses. Canadian vegetable producers operate in a highly integrated North American market, so it's essential that Canada's trade rules don't harm their competitiveness. Take the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, for example. This agency imposes Canada-specific requirements for registering a crop protection product. It goes without saying that the health of workers and the public must take precedence over all other considerations. However, the economic impact of decisions must also be taken into account. Most crop protection products are imported from the four corners of the globe, but mainly from the United States. Canada is a small player on the world stage. If Canadian requirements and registration costs are unjustifiable in the eyes of manufacturers, it will be easy for them to give up and not make their products available in Canada. With manufacturer consolidation having taken its toll, the possibility of finding a substitute product becomes slim.