Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada

Building a stronger, more competitive Canada

We work to ensure that all government political priorities and decisions support and grow our sector’s ability to contribute to the economy, healthcare, and the lives of Canadians. We continue to raise our top priorities in meetings with federal and provincial ministers, senior advisors to ministers, opposition critics, Members of Parliament on critical committees that deal with issues pertinent to our industry, and senior officials across a range of departments.

Strengthening the food, health, and consumer product sector will ensure Canadians can continue to find the products they need at prices they can afford, as well as power much-needed investment, innovation, jobs, and growth.

We cannot achieve this ambitious vision of a stronger, more resilient Canada without the support of government as a proactive, engaged partner committed to the future of this vital sector. Our advocacy priorities are outlined below.

Our Advocacy Priorities

As Canada faces rising costs and economic uncertainty, FHCP’s Let Canada’s Makers Make election platform lays out a clear plan for affordability, investment, and growth. We’re calling on government leaders to act on three key priorities:

Champion consumer affordability and access

Canadians are feeling the pressure of rising prices, and affordability remains their top concern. More than ever, they need policies that remove unnecessary costs and ensure reliable access to essential products.

We urge the government to:

✔ Eliminate unnecessary taxes and fees that inflate grocery and consumer product prices.

✔ Modernize labeling and packaging regulations to reduce costs and unnecessary waste.

✔ Remove GST from select consumer health products and expand their eligibility under the Medical Expense Tax Credit.

✔ Support self-care by making everyday health essentials more accessible and affordable.

Slash unnecessary red tape

Excessive and outdated regulations stifle innovation, drive up costs, and limit access to essential goods. Our industry is heavily regulated, but Canada’s approval processes for food and health products are among the slowest in the world—delaying consumer access and weakening competitiveness.

We’re calling on policymakers to:

✔ Streamline regulatory approvals to ensure Canadians can access new food and health products without unnecessary delays.

✔ Reform Canada’s regulatory system to better align with global best practices.

✔ Ensure regulators consider economic competitiveness when developing policies that impact consumer access and affordability.

Boost Canadian production and reduce the cost of doing business

Strengthening domestic manufacturing is critical to ensuring Canada’s economic resilience. FHCP members are committed to producing high-quality, safe, and affordable products right here in Canada, but they face mounting challenges—including high operational costs, supply chain disruptions, and interprovincial trade barriers.

To support Canadian manufacturers, we need:

✔ Stronger incentives for capital investment in food, health, and consumer goods manufacturing.

✔ A more reliable and cost-effective transportation network, including improved rail and trucking infrastructure.

✔ Coordinated action to remove interprovincial trade barriers that restrict the flow of essential goods.

✔ A competitive business environment that attracts foreign investment and fosters domestic job creation.

Driving impact for Canadians

FHCP remains committed to working with government and industry partners to create a more competitive business environment, lower costs for consumers, and ensure a secure supply of essential products. As we look ahead to the next federal election, we urge all leaders and candidates to stand behind policies that empower Canada’s makers.

For more on why Canada must take urgent action to support manufacturing, read FHCP CEO Michael Graydon’s op-ed: Time to Let Canada’s Makers Make: A Practical Plan to Lower Costs, Create Jobs, and Stimulate Economic Growth.

🔗 Read FHCP’s 2025 Election Platform

Advocacy