OTTAWA, ONTARIO — As Canada’s Parliament resumed on May 26 under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) made clear the priorities it hopes to see the federal government enact.

CMC represents Canada’s red meat processing sector, which contributes over $9.4 billion in exports and supports nearly 200,000 jobs, according to the group.

“Canada’s red meat sector is uniquely positioned to help the government achieve its economic and trade objectives,” said Chris White, president and chief executive officer of CMC, Canada Pork. “With targeted support on labor, trade and regulatory modernization, we can contribute to GDP growth, export performance and rural economic development.”

CMC called out five key pillars where the group looks to Parliament to quickly attend to.

Trade and market access

First, the council asked for full access to China for beef and pork imports. Over half the industry’s products are destined for export, and Canada looks to strengthen its competitiveness in the Chinese market. Supporting this initiative, the Canadian red meat industry is launching the Canadian Meat Advocacy Office (CMAO) in Beijing, China.

Additionally, CMC called for swift resolution of trade conflict with the United States and the European Union as well as expanded access to Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Labor and immigration reform

Labor shortages remain problematic for the Canadian red meat industry, limiting growth across the entire supply chain.

“We urge the creation of a Federal Food Security Immigration Stream, and a more responsive Temporary Foreign Worker Program tailored to the year-round needs of rural agri-food operations,” CMC said.

Regulatory efficiency

There are several areas where CMC sees an opportunity for improved regulatory efficiency. For one, the council suggested an alignment of feed ban rules with the United States. Furthermore, CMC looks to streamline CFIA inspection practices and to adopt digital tools like AI inspections and e-certification to improve efficiency and boost exports.

Supply chain stability

To protect trade and food security, CMC requested a policy framework that ensures uninterrupted food supply during labor disruptions while respecting workers’ rights.

Animal health preparedness

As biosecurity concerns continue across the globe amid outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF), Canada’s red meat sector looks to remain vigilant in protecting against the spread of animal diseases.

“We call for faster deployment of support for foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever, along with stronger investments in biosecurity and rapid disease detection at borders,” CMC said.