Public Consultation

Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill Consultation

Our fundamental concern is that Incorporation by Reference (IBR) separates law-making from democratic oversight by Parliament. The authority to use IBR transfers power to create and amend regulations from elected representatives to unelected bureaucrats who are not directly accountable to voters. Combined with a regulatory policy that gives privileged access to corporations, the proposed use of IBR for internally-generated documents enables, encourages, and may even institutionalize the influence of lobbyist working on behalf of regulated parties over public regulators who should be working for the broader public interest. This unacceptably widens the gap between those responsible to the public and those making the laws that govern the public. Read more

The Competition Act as a Tool for Democracy – Fairness for Farmers

The Competition Act can be a powerful tool for balancing the Canadian economy by tempering the positive feedback loops that lead to ever larger, more powerful corporations concentrating wealth and shaping ever larger parts of the economy through their ability to set the terms of commerce as a result of their dominance within the market. The Competition Act needs to be designed as a tool for democracy, to ensure Canadians have a diversity of meaningful and accessible ways to participate in society as producers, workers, and small business owners. Read more

NFU submission on Proposed Special Review Decision of Atrazine

The National Farmers Union submitted the following brief to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s public consultation on its Proposed Special Review Decision of Atrazine and Its Associated End-use Products The Read more

Guidance to providing your input to AAFC’s Sustainable Agriculture Strategy

The NFU has created a guideline for how you might want to respond to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) questionnaire towards developing a 25-year Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. Use this as Read more

Croplife involvement in regulation means CFIA President must be replaced, say groups

In September, Radio Canada revealed that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had circulated a summary of an important regulatory proposal via a document that was produced on a computer owned by CropLife Canada. This indication of improper collaboration between the CFIA and CropLife has shaken confidence in the CFIA’s ability to protect the public interest. Public confidence in our food and agriculture sector depends on regulatory oversight that operates transparently and in the public interest at all times. Friday, October 14th the National Farmers Union along with thirteen additional organizations wrote to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Bibeau requesting that she replace the President of the CFIA in order to restore the CFIA’s reputation and credibility. Read more

NFU submission to Targeted Review of the Pest Control Products Act

Further Strengthening Protection of Health and the Environment: Targeted Review of the Pest Control Products Act In December 2021, the Health Minister’s Mandate Letter directed the Minister Duclos to ensure Read more

Canadian Grain Commission Science Strategy Public Engagement

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to provide input regarding the research and science-based activities currently carried out at the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The NFU strongly supports maintaining Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: February 2022

In this issue: NFU calls for Fertilizer Price Investigation CUSMA Dairy Trade Dispute Farmers Beware the Variety Use Agreement Gene Editing News NFU CALLS FOR FERTILIZER PRICE INVESTIGATION Farmers are Read more

Submission to CGC “Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage” consultation

The NFU supports the CGC's proposed changes to "subject to" framework. The CGC’s authority to enforce grade and dockage through binding determination in the event of a dispute provides farmers with a power-balancing force against companies that are able to unfairly downgrade and thereby discount grain delivered to the country elevator. Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: September – October 2021

In this issue: Precision, power and precaution: gene editing How – or whether – Canada regulates gene editing has far-reaching implications Proposed MRL increase for glyphosate leads to pause, planned Read more