A strong, united voice for Canadian canola
The Canola Council speaks for the industry on issues affecting the entire canola value chain. We address public policy decisions, at home and abroad, that are required to help our sector thrive.
As we address these issues, we draw on the knowledge of internal specialists and an extensive industry network. Working as a team, we seek a more supportive environment for canola from the laboratory where innovation starts to the retail shelf where consumers purchase our product.
Top advocacy priorities
The Canola Council of Canada is very active, advocating for the priorities of our members. There is a range of policies that we are involved in and our top advocacy priorities are outlined below.
Supporting the market for canola-based biofuels
- Canola is a sustainable part of a healthy environment, taking greenhouse gas emissions from the air and turning them into renewable fuel. Canola-based biofuels are low-carbon, renewable fuels made from crops grown by 43,000 Canadian farmers. These biofuels are good for the environment, our economy and our farms.
- Renewable fuel standards that reward low-carbon biofuels are integral to helping Canada achieve its emissions-reduction targets and transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Incorporating the advantages of canola-based biofuels into the Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) will lead to further greenhouse gas reductions. Within CFS, sustainability criteria must recognize canola and crop-based agriculture in Canada and other qualifying countries as sustainable on an aggregate basis, to ensure competitiveness with our trading partners. Further, canola’s low carbon advantage must be reflected in the Life Cycle Analysis model.
Advocating for sound, science-based regulation
- Decisions on crop protection products have been based on the scientific advice of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada, and this needs to continue.
- Similarly, plant breeding policies and regulations need to be aligned with the latest technological advancements in the sector.
- Innovations in both of these areas have an important role to play in continuing to advance industry sustainability and are required for the sector to remain competitive.
Trade diversification in the Indo-Pacific Region
- The Indo-Pacific is a priority region for canola market diversification.
- CCC, along with industry partners, is seeking a Government of Canada-resourced Indo-Pacific Diversification Office that has the capability and the mandate to prevent and resolve market access issues in the region.
- This office would be led by a multidisciplinary team of experts that work collaboratively with industry and complement existing government resources such as embassy personnel and trade commissioners. It should be based in the Indo-Pacific with a regional mandate and include the following:
- Technical personnel (plant science, plant pathology, veterinarians) to deal with the growing number of market access issues arising from sanitary and phytosanitary measures;
- Regulatory policy experts who can assist in building capacity locally and championing science-based regulatory approaches in key markets; and
- Agriculture and trade policy personnel.
