BY MATT SHEPPARD & CHRIS DUYVELSHOFF
Ongoing concerns continue regarding the funding and capacity of the Pest Management Centre (PMC) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) while several policy initiatives were the focus of engagement with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Advocacy activities in 2025 focused on funding enhancement for PMC and pursuing a mandate change for PMRA.
OFVGA – advocacy
Securing additional funding for the Minor Use Pesticides Program of PMC remains a top priority. Many new crop protection registrations would not happen for fruit and vegetables without the work of the PMC. The program remains under limited capacity with half the average output from a decade ago, reducing the ability of PMC to conduct its critical work facilitating minor use label expansions. Ultimately, fewer projects at PMC means a smaller crop protection toolbox for growers. In support of seeking restored capacity at PMC, OFVGA along with FVGC met with elected officials, engaged with provincial and federal agriculture Minister’s offices, senior AAFC staff, and shared advocacy materials. We will continue working towards a funding enhancement for this critical program.
Expanding the mandate of the PMRA beyond human health and environment to include considerations for impacts to domestic food production and competitiveness has also been a major objective. Similarly, OFVGA along with FVGC engaged at several points throughout the year on this topic with some degree of success. Firstly, this vision was reflected as a campaign commitment in the 2025 federal Liberal platform. Secondly, OFVGA and FVGC along with some member organizations were witnesses for a fall study of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on regulatory reform in the agri-food sector. In December, a report from the committee outlined several recommendations to government, including to change the mandate of PMRA to include economics, food security and the cost of food in their decisions. We will utilize this initial support to seek meaningful change in 2026.
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