QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Food Safety
June 11, 2026
Senator Moreau, proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Act buried in two omnibus bills — Bill C-30 and Bill C-31 — are raising serious concerns among Canadians, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment. They point out that the proposed changes are unwarranted, undemocratic and weaken protections for the health of Canadians and our environment. They advocate for evidence-based decision making and urge the government to reconsider the amendments. We know that some pesticides have had significant impacts on the health of Canadians, including causing cancer, cognitive impacts and reproductive toxicity.
Senator Moreau, will the government consider removing these amendments to the Pest Control Products Act from those bills?
Thank you, Senator Coyle. First, I want to be clear. The government is by no means making this change at the expense of public health and safety. The agency can apply an economic lens to how they make decisions without compromising health and safety, and the government fully expects that balance to be achieved.
Notably, Bill C-30 would only enable the government to authorize pesticides in exceptional circumstances, with an emphasis on the requirement of those exceptional circumstances. The government had promised to change the mandates of the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate and of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure that they are also prioritizing food security and production in their decision making without compromising health and safety.
The changes brought by Bill C-30 and Bill C-31 will help ensure that the decisions being made by these regulatory agencies are factoring —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
Senator Moreau, will you take a supplementary question?
Yes.
I believe there is already a provision in the current regime for exceptional circumstances, so I don’t fully buy that answer.
Senator Moreau, will the government agree to consult with Health Canada’s Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products and the Pest Management Advisory Council, which they have not yet consulted, other experts and the Canadian public on the impacts of pesticides on human health —
Thank you, Senator Coyle.
I am not trying to sell my answer. I don’t necessarily need you to buy it. I understand what you said, but both Bill C-30 and Bill C-31 will help ensure that the decisions being made by these regulatory agencies will factor in the reality that farmers and producers are facing on the ground and how these decisions might impact Canadians at the grocery store.
As you know, senator, no one wants to endanger the health and safety of Canadians, especially farmers. They want to feed people, earn a good living and protect their land.
