The Wheat Growers Association is expressing strong support for Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization Act (FARM Act), introduced by MP David Bexte, calling it a necessary first step toward fixing Canada’s broken regulatory system.
For too long, Canadian farmers have faced delays accessing safe, proven tools already approved by competitors around the world. The result has been a growing productivity gap, lost investment, and higher costs across the value chain.
“This legislation is a long-overdue signal that Canada is ready to start taking competitiveness seriously again,” said Gunter Jochum, President of the Wheat Growers Association. “Farmers are not asking for shortcuts. We are asking for timely access to tools our competitors are accessing and often using safely and effectively.”
Bill C-273 introduces a trusted jurisdiction framework that would allow products approved in leading regulatory systems such as the United States, Argentina and Australia to receive provisional approval in Canada within a defined timeline.
The Wheat Growers say this approach reflects common sense and aligns with how modern, globally competitive regulatory systems should operate.
“Relying on trusted partners is not a compromise on safety. It is a recognition that duplication does not equal diligence,” added Jochum. “Canada has world-class regulators, but we need a system that moves at the speed of innovation, not years behind it.”
While supportive, the Wheat Growers emphasize that the FARM Act should be viewed as a starting point, not the finish line.
“This bill moves us in the right direction, but we should be clear. Catching up is not the same as leading,” said Jochum. “If Canada wants to be a global agriculture powerhouse, we need to build a regulatory system that attracts investment, accelerates innovation, and sets the pace internationally.”
Current regulatory delays have discouraged companies from bringing new products to Canada, particularly in smaller crop sectors, leaving farmers with fewer tools to manage risk and optimize production.
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