Yasmin Veiga

World Trade Organization Doha Round Negotiations: the Canadian Meat Council supports an ambitious trade deal at the World Trade Organization to gain better access to important export markets. We need a significant reduction in import tariffs, the elimination of export subsidies and greatly reduced domestic support that distorts pricing and international markets. Veterinary Import Policy: Animal Health Risk Assessment: the Canadian Meat Council has requested an updated risk assessment on the importation of live American hogs for slaughter in Canada. Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement- the Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the Government of Canada to ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement Negotiations. Canada should be seeking an ambitious free trade agreement with all parties in the negotiations. Temporary Foreign Worker Program: the Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the continued access for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for Canada's meat industry. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding extensive efforts to recruit domestically, it is the reality of our industry that the number of workers required exceeds, by far, the number of both “lower-skilled” and “higher-skilled” Canadian candidates who are both willing and able to work in Canada's meat processing industry. There is now an application fee of $1000 per Temporary Foreign Worker- if a form has 1 employee or 100 employees the charge is $1000 per worker applied for. If the request is rejected the fee is not refunded. These fees seem much higher than a reasonable cost to process- especially when the request for multiple employees is rejected. Safe Food for Canadians Act: The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the development of outcome based food safety regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the development and implementation of a risk-based and evidence-based food inspection safety system. Refugees: We are advocating for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to initiate efforts to direct refugee settlement to locations where individuals may be qualified, with training, to fill meat industry job vacancies. The Canadian meat industry also welcomes any other initiatives that will facilitate inter-provincial labour mobility of unemployed, under-employed and disadvantaged Canadians willing to work in our industry. Product of Canada Guidelines: the Canadian Meat Council supports a review of the Product of Canada Guidelines with regard to labelling of meat products. Meat Safety Tax Credit: the Canadian Meat Council is advocating for the creation of a new Meat Safety Tax Credit based on eligible expenses for Canada’s food processing industry for a safer food supply for Canadians. Market Access for Canadian Meat Exports Program: The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for a 5-year $10 million Market Access for Canadian Meat Exports Program to help Canada’s meat packing and processing industry take full advantage of the export opportunities created by new international trade agreements. Manual of Procedures: the Canadian Meat Council is requesting that the Government update policies on animal transportation and welfare issues- Chapter 12 of the Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures. Labour Mobility Incentive Program: The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for a new 5-year $50 million Labour Mobility Incentive Program targeted at Canada’s youth to strengthen Canada’s labour market. Interprovincial Meat Trade Pilot Project:the Canadian Meat Council is advocating that all meat processed in Canada should be inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the new Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations. International Barriers to Trade: The Canadian Meat Council seeks to eliminate or prevent out-dated, overly burdensome, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate technical requirements in other countries that can create unnecessary obstacles to trade, reduce competition and prevent Canadian expor

Science-based food regulations: Working with the Government of Canada on a variety of regulations to promote safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Trade diversification: Working with the government to seek out and sign new free trade agreements with markets that have a potential for increased Canadian meat exports. Canada-U.S. relations: Ensuring that the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) continues in its entirety. Labour: Advocating for a permanent food processing immigration stream, stemming from the success of the Agri-Food Pilot. International Barriers to Trade: Seeking to eliminate or prevent out-dated, overly burdensome, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate technical requirements in other countries that can create unnecessary obstacles to trade, reduce competition and prevent Canadian exporters from participating in global supply under the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements. The Canadian Meat Council is advocating for strengthened regulatory cooperation initiatives in regional, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements to further facilitate trade. Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance: Encouraging the adoption of an increased and permanent accelerated capital cost allowance to match the tax benefits available to the American meat processing sector. Canadian Food Inspection Agency and User Fee Act: Advocating for a review of the CFIA fee structure and establishment of service standards as required by the User Fee Act. Interprovincial trade of meat: Advocating for all meat that is processed in Canada and that crosses provincial borders to be inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations. Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation: Seeking greater regulatory alignment between American and Canadian food inspection systems to ensure that Canada remains regulatory competitive. Canada-EU: Promoting commercially viable access to Europe for Canadian beef and pork under the provisions of the Canada Europe Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canada-China: Advocating for tariff-free access to the Chinese market for Canadian beef and pork exports. Domestic processing: Advocating for a targeted federal support program to assist small and medium-sized beef processors who are experiencing severe financial stress due to limited cattle supply and rising input costs. The program would aim to stabilize operations, preserve regional processing capacity, and sustain employment through short-term financial relief and resilience measures developed in collaboration with the Government of Canada Terrestrial animal diseases: Ensuring the Government of Canada is adequately prepared to respond to foreign animal diseases, including funding support for processors and zoning agreements with key trading partners.

Discuss the regulatory publication governing safe embarkation and disembarkation processes between ships and shore in Canada. Discuss the impacts of U.S. proposed port fee contemplations for Canadian-flagged vessels arriving at U.S. ports. Discuss the need to prioritize marine-related investments, including through targeted programs such as the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund and Arctic Infrastructure Fund. Policy and potential regulatory proposals regarding the construction and design of landing booms used on Canadian vessels. Discuss the need for ice breakers to clear channels in the St. Lawrence Seaway, especially prior to the Seaway opening, so that vessels can safely get from port to port. Canadian Ice-Breaking capacity to support internal and coastal marine shipping Proposed federal subsidy for the domestic transport of steel by rail Seeking remission of federal duties to be paid or already paid on the purchase of foreign-built vessels. Previously known as Bill C-549, National Marine Day Act: in respect of identifying a specific day each year to be officially recognized as Canada Marine Day. Policy, regulatory proposals and potential legislation dealing with ballast water and aquatic invasive species. Pilotage Act: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services Pacific Pilotage Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services Marine Navigation Services Fees: working towards reduction and eventual removal of government fees on industry Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: working towards changes that might make it less difficult and restrictive for more skilled shipping industry labour to work in the Great Lakes - Seaway marine transportation industry. Hazardous Materials Information Review Regulations: informing clients of the existing and potential status of the regulations, and assisting them representing their business interests through inclusion or exclusion of their commodities in the regulations. Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services General Pilotage Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services EcoFreight Program: informing clients of the program and assisting them with application and approval process Canadian Grain Act: working towards an efficient and cost-effective grain transportation system, especially as it pertains to the marine mode Canada Marine Act: working towards an efficient, safe, cost-effective marine transportation system, especially regarding Canada's ports and Seaway systems. Canada Labour Code: working towards ensuring Canadian labour laws are as pluralistic and democratic as possible, especially insofar as providing openness and fair competition to labour markets affecting shipping. Atlantic Pilotage Authority Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services

Canada Labour Code: working towards ensuring Canadian labour laws are as pluralistic and democratic as possible, especially insofar as providing openness and fair competition to labour markets affecting shipping. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: working towards changes that might make it less difficult and restrictive for more skilled shipping industry labour to work in the Great Lakes - Seaway marine transportation industry. Canada Marine Act: working towards an efficient, safe, cost-effective marine transportation system, especially regarding Canada's ports and Seaway systems. General Pilotage Regulations: in respect of ensuring efficient and cost-effective pilotage services Policy, regulatory proposals and potential legislation dealing with ballast water and aquatic invasive species.

Communicating to Members of Parliament and Senate, federal departments and agencies a long term and comprehensive view of the role of research and post-secondary education as it relates to agriculture, food and nutrition, animals and health, in the growth of economic and societal wealth of Canada. Identification of critical infrastructure for food safety, security, sustainability and sovereignty, and public health related to nutrition, disease surveillance and prevention. Provide advice to federal departments and agencies regarding Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine policies and priorities, and in particular Agricultural, Food and Veterinary Medicine policies and priorities related to skills development and capacity, funding and partnerships in scientific research and the technology transfer / extension to users of the research findings. Advice on regulations in related subjects. Communicating with public office holders in the areas of research funding priorities, funding cycles, processes and results; and skills and HQP (highly qualified personnel) needs for governments, industry and academia. Collaboration among Science and Technology and Policy Branches, and Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine faculties of member universities, regarding the development and implementation of research clusters of federal and university organizations. Collaborating with Federal Government on strengthening Canadian universities arrangements with universities abroad

To seek funding under the CED Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) for organizational capacity development, food-processing infrastructure and quality-assurance capacity development. Matters affecting the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan as they relate to adapted enterprises providing inclusive employment to persons with disabilities. Matters affecting the federal food security strategy as it relates to the food-processing and food-security activities of an adapted enterprise. To seek funding under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) for community food-security and food-distribution activities. Communications with federal officials regarding the domestic manufacture and procurement of military snowshoes (cold-weather mobility equipment) produced in Canada by an adapted enterprise. Activities include ensuring awareness of Canadian production capacity, NATO-accredited military product lines, and Buy Canadian considerations in defence procurement, and positioning a Quebec-based manufacturer as a domestic supplier. To seek funding under the ESDC Enabling Accessibility Fund for workplace accessibility improvements. To seek funding under the CanExport SMEs program for international market development activities. Matters affecting federal Buy Canadian policies and domestic manufacturing resilience initiatives as they relate to Canadian-manufactured consumer goods produced by adapted enterprises. Matters affecting implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan as they relate to adapted enterprises providing inclusive employment. To seek funding under the ESDC Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.