Thank you very much for the opportunity to present to you today.

My name is Ian Affleck. I'm the vice-president of plant biotechnology at CropLife Canada. I'm joined today by my colleague Justine Taylor, director of stewardship and sustainability.

CropLife Canada is the association representing the manufacturers, developers and distributors of plant science innovations, including pest control products and plant biotechnology, for use in agriculture, urban and public health settings. We are committed to protecting human health and the environment, and we believe in driving innovation through continuous research.

Our members bring innovation to Canadian farmers, and those innovations help drive improved productivity and sustainability. For example, these innovations supported farmers in reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Canadian agriculture by 50% since 1997.

The average Canadian farm is now producing twice as much food as it did 50 years ago, while using the same amounts of inputs. Simply put, these technologies allow farmers to grow more food on less land using fewer resources, all while making agriculture more sustainable, keeping food more affordable and growing the economy.

The legislative framework in Canada being discussed today plays a critical role in fostering innovation and directly impacts whether these solutions make it into the hands of Canadian farmers.

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is a critical piece of that framework, which has historically delivered world-leading environmental protection while also delivering a predictable, science-based and risk-based approach to regulatory oversight.

While CropLife Canada member products are primarily regulated under CEPA-equivalent acts and regulations, such as the Pest Control Products Act, the Feeds Act and the Seeds Act, amendments to CEPA have the potential to impact those regulatory programs.

CropLife Canada and its members are supportive of the amendments to CEPA as tabled on February 9, 2022. However, we're only supportive of two of the amendments that were proposed following the clause-by-clause review through the Senate committee, specifically those related to “replacing, reducing or refining the use of vertebrate animals” in testing procedures and to the engagement of indigenous communities.

With that in mind, the original Bill S-5 offered a well-balanced and pragmatic approach to addressing identified shortcomings in CEPA while preserving the essential, science-based and risk-based approach to regulation for which Canada is known.

CropLife Canada, on behalf of its members, respectfully requests that the bill be returned to its original state, other than those two Senate amendments noted above. This will help ensure the safety of Canadians and their environment while providing a predictable, science-based and risk-based legislative foundation for the regulation of new and innovative products like those delivered by our member companies.

Thank you very much for the time.

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