This public statement describes key findings from the strategic environmental and economic assessment (SEEA) conducted for a Treasury Board submission on advancing interprovincial and interterritorial food trade in Canada (the approved proposal).
We are committed to transparency and advancing the Government of Canada's priorities and goals on sustainable development and climate action, including environmental and socio-economic goals. This public statement explains how environmental and economic effects were considered during the proposal's development.
Summary of the approved proposal
We received funding for three years, starting in the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year to help small and medium enterprises understand how to comply with federal regulations to trade food across Canada and to identify where provincial and territorial food regulations meet federal requirements.
Objectives of the approved proposal
The proposal will advance two key objectives as priorities, while remaining flexible to adjust these objectives as needed to best support internal trade.
Establish an internal trade hub
Create a centralized collection of digital tools and tailored guidance to help Canadian businesses across all food commodities expand domestic trade. The tools and guidance in the hub will help businesses:
- comply with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)
- obtain a federal licence to trade interprovincially
- address challenges faced by businesses looking to expand
Complete pilot projects and analyze results
Deliver and evaluate two existing pilot projects:
- Slaughter Availability Pilot (Ontario–Quebec)
- Ready to Grow Pilot (Ontario)
These pilots, focused on meat products, will address specific internal trade challenges while encouraging businesses to obtain a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence for internal trade.
Key findings
The approved proposal did not trigger a strategic environmental analysis or strategic economic analysis. The proposal is not expected to produce significant environmental or economic impacts.
Strategic environmental analysis
The approved proposal initiative is not expected to result in important positive or negative effects related to:
- greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- biodiversity
- other environmental effects
- climate change impacts and adaptation solutions
- Canada's climate change resilience
Strategic economic analysis
A strategic economic analysis was not required for this proposal.
Cross-cutting considerations
The approved proposal initiative is not expected to impact:
- Indigenous Peoples' rights and climate leadership
- public perspective on environmental impacts
- the fossil fuel subsidy
- implication for sustainable jobs
Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
The initiative contributes to Goal 2 of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy which aims to support a healthier and more sustainable food system. By helping small and medium-sized enterprises understand how to comply with federal food regulations for internal trade, the initiative strengthens the safety and sustainability of Canada's food system.
Summary of how environmental and economic considerations were integrated in the proposal
Environmental and economic considerations were reviewed early in the development of the proposal. Assessments showed that the proposal would not have any measurable impacts on the environment and did not require a strategic economic analysis. As a result, no further integration of these considerations was necessary.