Ottawa - Lambton-Kent-Middlesex M.P. Bev Shipley has tabled a motion (M-460) in the House of Commons that focuses on competitiveness for Canadian Farmers.  M-460 is aimed at considering equivalent scientific research and agricultural regulatory approval processes of our other trading nations.  Shipley says this would help our Canadian Farmers to be more competitive by having access to production management tools other nations currently can use that Canadian Farmers cannot.   The motion will receive 2 hours of debate, the first of which is scheduled to take place on Friday January 29, 2010.

“I have heard from many local farmers who say they are placed at a competitive disadvantage to their direct competitors “said Shipley.  Many farmers of Canada’s trading partners most notably in the United States, are able to use commercial agricultural products that Canadian Farmers cannot.  Further, some of these products that are not available in Canada for our farmers to use are being used on imported agri-food and livestock commodities.

Shipley says “Canadian departments and agencies insist that all products used in Canada must undergo our own research and evaluation processes.  Manufactures of agricultural products are reluctant to go through the time and expense of duplicating research and testing used as part of the regulatory and licensing process in the countries which produce them.”  Through research, Shipley’s  has discovered that the Canadian market is simply not large enough to justify the time and expense of duplicating research and testing.   “Science is science whether it is conducted in the United States or in Canada,” said Shipley.  “Data does not change coming across the border.”

“I am requesting through my motion that we consider using the equivalent scientific research and agricultural regulatory approval processes of other trading nations, provided that the results are consistent with Canadian standards. We simply do not need to reinvent the wheel every time a new product comes on the market, especially if the research has already been done and there isn’t any compromise on standards.”  Shipley said, “Canadian farmers need access to the same products and production management tools used by their competitors; we need to level the playing field here.”

Shipley has consulted with many local producers as well as provincial and national agricultural organizations in preparing this motion.  “This motion will bring about meaningful change for farmers, and I’m looking forward to receiving the support of my colleagues in the House of Commons as we await the first hour of debate in the New Year.”