Agriculture and Agri-Food

The committee met to plan its studies for the new parliamentary session. Members tabled several motions proposing future inquiries. Sophie Chatel moved to hold a two-hour meeting on tariffs affecting agriculture, with one hour for officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and the Department of Finance, and a second hour for affected stakeholders. John Barlow proposed a study of up to eight meetings on regulatory reform at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Yves Perron moved two studies: one of at least three meetings on price transparency in the pork and beef supply chain, and another of at least four meetings on investment and innovation in the agri-food sector.

Marianne Dandurand moved a two-meeting study on the implementation of the grocery code of conduct, with a report by December 2025. Paul Connors moved a study of at least four meetings on Business Risk Management programs, to be completed before June 2026, in preparation for the next federal-provincial-territorial agreement. Barlow expressed concern about the committee’s workload and suggested deferring the BRM study. After debate, the committee agreed to adopt the motions on tariffs, regulatory reform, price transparency, investment, and the grocery code of conduct. The BRM study was left unresolved, with members agreeing to revisit it later.