The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food met on June 9, 2026, to continue its study on food security in the face of global instability. Witnesses included Patrice Léger Bourgoin from the Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec, Marcus Janzen from the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, Julie Paillat from the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada, Christian Hébert from the Union des producteurs agricoles de Portneuf, Michael Graydon from Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada, Karen Proud from the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, and Tyler McCann from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.
Patrice Léger Bourgoin described how the consolidation of major retailers and centralized supply chains in Quebec has reduced distribution options for market gardeners, forcing them to transport produce long distances and limiting regional growth. He recommended that the government examine the impact of supply chain integration on supplier diversity, support short supply chains, and increase financial support for farmers facing global competition and uneven standards.
Marcus Janzen emphasized that Canada needs a "food lens" in federal decision-making, timely access to science-based crop protection tools, modernized business risk management programs that reflect horticulture realities, and investments in labour, infrastructure, and domestic processing capacity. He noted that perishable products require predictable supply chains and practical tools to handle disruptions.
Julie Paillat highlighted that greenhouse growers face a "structural double squeeze" from high market concentration on both input and retail sides, and that without strategic policy alignment, investment risks moving to other North American jurisdictions. She called for targeted, modernized programs delivered at the scale needed by the sector, and noted that steel tariffs are impacting greenhouse infrastructure investment.
Christian Hébert presented the Portneuf food voucher program, which provided 94 vulnerable households with vouchers redeemable at public markets, achieving a 94% redemption rate and generating over $63,000 in economic benefits. He argued that such programs reduce stigma and support local farmers, and he urged federal investment to expand the model, contrasting it with the Alto high-speed rail project, which he said threatens over 200 farms in Portneuf and could drive 120 businesses out of operation.
Michael Graydon argued that food manufacturing capacity should be treated as strategic national infrastructure, and that Canada's productivity problem is one of investment and scale, not talent. He recommended a domestic food processing fund to support modernization and automation, regulatory modernization that considers economic competitiveness alongside safety, and investments in transportation infrastructure and workforce pathways to permanent residency.
Karen Proud stated that the grocery code of conduct is not a food security policy instrument and does not regulate prices, but aims to improve commercial relationships through fair dealing, transparency, and dispute resolution. She noted that membership has grown to over 200 organizations, and that the office is beginning to see the code used in commercial negotiations, but acknowledged that small producers remain uncertain about its benefits and that the code does not address bargaining power imbalances directly.
Tyler McCann recommended evolving business risk management to give farmers more choice, committing to an agri-food innovation strategy, removing fertilizer tariffs and developing a critical inputs strategy, investing in transportation infrastructure including cold storage, and leveraging government procurement like the national school food program to support Canadian production. He agreed with other witnesses that regulatory burdens and cuts to agricultural research are harming competitiveness.
During questions, members discussed the impact of regulatory costs, the need for better labelling of food origin, and the challenges of getting local products into major grocery chains. Karen Proud confirmed that the code has received nine specific complaints and will release its first public report next week, and that her office does not act as a mediator between associations and retailers. No procedural motions or votes were recorded during this meeting.
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