Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
November 17, 2014  

Members of Partners in Innovation are seriously disappointed by today’s actions by the Official Opposition in the House of Commons to delay and disrupt critical amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation. During Report Stage debate of Bill C-18 in the House of Commons, the Official Opposition moved 51 separate motions to strike all 51 clauses of Bill C-18 related to amendments to Plant Breeders’ Rights.

Partners in Innovation represents 20 national, regional and provincial farmer and value chain organizations that have come together to support amendments to Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) legislation, in order to bring it  into compliance with the most recent convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV).  From coast to coast and crop to crop, organizations representing the vast majority of farmers and value chain groups support the amendments because they are confident that it will give them access to superior varieties developed in Canada and internationally.

“I believe I speak for all Partners when I say the changes will facilitate continued innovation and access to new crop varieties for farmers and researchers alike. This is incredibly important to the success and sustainability of our sector,” said Ron Bonnett, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.  

As this discussion moves forward, Partners in Innovation urges that the needs of farmers and the Canadian agriculture sector are properly taken into account by the Opposition.  We urge the Government of Canada to use all of the tools it has at its disposal to ensure that these very important amendments move through Parliament and are implemented as soon as possible.

Published: November 17, 2014