This public statement describes key findings from the strategic environmental and economic assessment (SEEA) conducted for a Treasury Board submission on securing market access for the agricultural and seafood sectors (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.
The proposal was led by the CFIA, with the support of Health Canada.
Summary of the approved proposal
We received funding for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year to continue to secure international market access for Canada's agriculture, agri-food, seafood, and forestry sectors. The goals of this investment are to support industry to overcome challenges in the international trade landscape and contribute to Canada's export goals, while mitigating the risks of imported animal, plant, and food products to protect the health of Canadians and Canada's resources.
Objectives of the approved proposal
The approved proposal allows the CFIA to continue undertaking activities that fall within our core mandate in enabling Canada's agricultural sector to trade internationally, while protecting Canada's food safety, and safeguarding domestic plant and animal resources. The objectives of the approved proposal are to:
- maintain the CFIA's capacity to negotiate Free Trade Agreements
- advance Canada's interests in International Standard Setting Bodies (ISSBs) and multilateral institutions
- enable the two-way trade (import and export) of agricultural products
- maintain and enhance Canada's international regulatory cooperation efforts
- maintain CFIA presence abroad to advance and resolve market access issues
Key findings
This proposal contributes to the sound and safe trade of agricultural and forestry products to and from Canada, positively impacting Canada's competitive advantage at key points along the trade continuum.
If the competitiveness of the sector increases, leading to new export or domestic market opportunities (including if export or domestic volumes increase), negative environmental effects could result from increased input requirements (for example, energy and water consumption) or from the consumption and pollution associated with increased production, transportation and storage requirements to move products from Canada to foreign markets. As Canadian industry and governments have extensive practices, programs and regulatory measures in effect to help ensure the sustainability of agricultural activities, any negative environmental impacts of the proposal are anticipated to be negligible.
The proposal could also positively impact environmental sustainability through the promotion and implementation of improved practices around food safety, animal and plant health standards, including controls to mitigate the risks associated with imported products. This could influence sector-wide decision-making towards environmentally responsible options and help mitigate negative environmental effects to nature and biodiversity, as related to the potential introduction of agricultural disease and pests. Additionally, the proposal outlines measures to reduce the possibility of exposure to diseases and pests from imported products, which will mitigate risks associated with imported animal, plant and food products for the health and safety of Canadians and Canada's resources.
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 proposal is expected to positively affect the CFIA's activities to support the following Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goals and implementation strategies:
- Goal 2: support a healthier and more sustainable food system (by ensuring the safety of Canada's food system)
- Goal 15: protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity (by preventing, detecting, responding to, controlling and managing invasive alien species)
Summary of how environmental and economic considerations were integrated in the proposal
In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment, a Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment preliminary scan was conducted for this initiative. The preliminary scan concluded that the activities proposed are not expected to result in important positive or negative environmental effects.