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Health

During oral questions on health, the Bloc Québécois raised a provision in the omnibus budget bill C-30 that would allow the government, by order in council, to re-authorize pesticides that Health Canada had banned on scientific grounds. The Bloc member called it the biggest setback since the Pest Control Products Act was created in 2002 and asked why the Health Minister was meeting with pesticide companies instead of protecting public health. The Liberal minister replied that Canadians’ health remains the government’s top priority, that the pest and food regulators fall under her department so meeting with affected sectors is part of her job, and that the government also works with the agricultural sector to protect food sovereignty and will never approve any product that endangers people’s lives.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Bloc Québécois
“I want the government to remove a part of this budget bill. It lets the Prime Minister bring back banned pesticides by overruling Health Canada's scientific decisions.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is overstepping once again. He wants to be able to re-authorize, by order in council, pesticides that have been banned on scientific grounds. In a provision buried in the omnibus budget Bill C‑30, he wants to give himself the right to overturn Health Canada’s decisions by invoking undefined concepts such as economic security. Researchers and health and environmental organizations are unanimous: this is an anti-science measure serving the interests of large agrochemical companies. They are here today to ask for one thing. Will the government remove this provision from Bill C‑30?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“Protecting Canadians' health is our top priority. We can do that while also supporting farmers and protecting our food supply.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since June 8.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. I would like to say something to my colleague, and I will be very clear. The health of Canadians will always be the Canadian government’s top priority. That said, we can also work with the agricultural sector and protect Canada’s food sovereignty. As I always say, we can walk and chew gum at the same time.

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Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“This bill lets banned pesticides be approved again. I want to know why the Minister of Health is protecting pesticide companies instead of public health.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are hiding a measure in Bill C‑30 that allows pesticides banned for scientific reasons to be re-authorized. This is the biggest setback since the Pest Control Products Act was created in 2002. Not only is the Minister of Health not upset about this, she even boasted that she was the only minister to ever attend a CropLife Canada event. CropLife Canada is an association of agrochemical companies that includes the pesticide giant Bayer. Why is the Minister of Health standing up for the profits of multinationals instead of standing up for public health?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“My department oversees food and pest regulators. It is my job to meet with the groups involved to hear their concerns. We will never approve any product that puts people's lives in danger.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency do indeed fall under Health Canada. It is therefore perfectly normal for me to engage with the sectors I represent, because I need to meet with them to understand their concerns. On the first point the member raised, I do not understand, because normally, when I am responsible for something, I have to meet with stakeholders. I will say it again: We will never authorize a product that would put anyone’s life at risk.

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