National Agricultural Leaders’ Debate shows parties’ priorities for the sector

Thursday, April 17th, OTTAWA – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) hosted the Agriculture Leaders’ Debate on April 17th. The debate brought together Federal political party representatives to address the most pressing issues facing Canadian agriculture today.

A recording of the debate can be found here.

Participants for the debate included:

The debate was moderated by RealAgriculture founder Shaun Haney and Martin Ménard, a journalist with La Terre chez nous. CFA would like to thank the exclusive sponsor of the debate, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada.

The questions focused on priority issues for Canadian agriculture such as:

The debaters had an animated and lively discussion, where they laid out their vision for the future of Canadian agriculture and how their parties would deal with current issues in the sector. While all five parties were supportive of Canada’s agriculture sector, they differed in their visions of its future and how to help the sector achieve its potential.

Competitiveness and Trade

When asked about increasing the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture, all parties agreed that interprovincial trade barriers and regulations should be reduced to help grow the Canadian domestic market. There was also agreement that Business Risk Management (BRM) programs needed to be improved for both timeliness and efficiency, though debaters disagreed on the breadth of those changes, with the Conservatives and Green Party calling for a full review of BRM programming.

All parties also committed to protecting supply management in future trade deals.

A number of parties were also in agreement that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) needed to apply an economic lens to their regulatory decisions that impact agriculture. This has also been a platform priority for CFA, which has called for a similar lens of competitiveness for all regulatory bodies.

While the Conservative representative accused the Liberal party of increasing costs for farmers through their policies, while the Liberals noted that the Conservative were the last government to make cuts to BRM programs.

CUSMA Review

All parties agreed that Canada needed to be strong in negotiations and protect Canadian agriculture.

The Conservatives and Liberals both noted they would oppose country of origin labeling. The Conservatives also noted they would repeal recent plastic packaging and front of pack labeling regulations that were trade irritants between Canada and the US.

Infrastructure

When asked about infrastructure, all parties agreed that infrastructure was a core concern, and were also in agreement that ports needed to be invested in to allow for market diversification by increasing access to other countries.

All parties also agreed that broadband infrastructure was a key component in attracting young and new entrants to the sector, and transportation infrastructure would also help with labour issues by providing consistent and reliable transportation.

The Liberals noted that the interswitching pilot for railways needs to be extended with the Liberal, while Conservatives suggested a permanent solution is warranted.

The Conservatives noted their commitment for an energy utility corridor, which would free up rail capacity for agricultural products.

“The debate is an excellent opportunity to give farmers across the country an idea of their party’s vision for the future, to help inform their votes. CFA is very thankful to all the representatives that took part in the debate,” said Keith Currie, President of the CFA.

“CFA looks forward to working together with all representatives in our next federal government to help Canadian agriculture reach its vast potential.”

Removal of Consumer Carbon Price a Relief for Farmers

March 17th, OTTAWA – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was pleased to see the Prime Minister’s recent announcement to set the consumer carbon price to zero after March 31st, 2025, providing much-needed relief for Canadian farmers.

“Farmers are being squeezed from seemingly all sides at once with inflation and tariffs from both the US and China. The long-awaited removal of the carbon tax will provide farmers a bit of relief from this pressure and can be seen as recognition for the difficult place Canadian farmers and consumers find themselves in today,” said Keith Currie, CFA President.

For years CFA has been pushing the government to allow for exemptions to the carbon tax for farmers to help improve competitiveness and increase farm financial sustainability. Based on estimates in 2023 from the Parliamentary Budget Office, farmers would save over $100 million a year with the removal of the consumer carbon tax.

“The signing of this order-in-council is a reassuring step in the right direction, but we need to see Parliament reconvene and provide a long-term solution that removes the consumer carbon price from legislation and ensures farms of all sizes are exempt from the carbon price. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to ensure future environmental policies enable long-term sustainable productivity growth and the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture,” added Currie.

CFA Statement on Imposition of Chinese Tariffs on Canadian Products

March 10, 2025, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is deeply concerned with the decision of the Chinese Government to impose tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas, fish, seafood and pork products.

“These Chinese tariffs could not have come at a worse time as Canadian producers already combat unfair and unjustified trade actions from the United States,” said Keith Currie, President of the CFA. “It is crucial that the Government of Canada stand firmly with Canadian canola, pork and seafood producers. We urge the Government of Canada to engage in immediate and robust diplomatic efforts with China to address these tariffs and to work closely with affected industries to provide financial compensation commensurate with the losses incurred by farmers who are paying the price.”

The CFA will continue working closely with the Government of Canada as additional information becomes available and to ensure there is ongoing communication regarding its efforts to resolve this issue.

The CFA and farmers across Canada support clear, transparent and rules-based trade when it comes to regulating and participating in international markets. The Government of Canada should explore all available options to resolve these unjustified tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports. At the same time, the Government must continue to work with the broader agriculture industries to provide additional market access support and pursue further market diversification opportunities, where possible, to support Canadian farmers during these difficult times.

CFA 2025 Annual General Meeting Recap

OTTAWA, Feb 27, 2025 — This week’s annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) brought together farm and food leaders from across Canada under the theme Laying the Foundation: Investing Today for the Future of Canadian Agriculture.

“There’s no doubt that Canada and the world are entering a period of great change. It’s never been more important to look at the foundational elements that will springboard our sector into a productive future for Canadian agriculture,” said CFA President Keith Currie.

At the meeting, the CFA membership passed 18 resolutions that will inform much of its advocacy efforts in the coming year. This year’s resolutions cover a range of issues, including: international trade, conservation, climate change, labour, rural infrastructure, crop protection, risk management and much more.

The CFA had a range of high-profile speakers at the AGM, including:

  • Carlos Joaquin González, Ambassador of Mexico to Canada
  • John Stackhouse, Senior Vice-President, RBC
  • Sam Millar, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance
  • Nik Nanos, Chief Data Scientist and Founder of the Nanos Research Group of Companies.
  • Tom Rosser, Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

At the onset of the AGM, there were two interactive workshops for delegates which explored key agricultural topics: Succession planning, sponsored by MNP, as well as public perception, sponsored by Fertilizer Canada. Each in-depth workshop was led and informed by key subject matter experts, where participants were focused on identifying and exploring how to ensure we advance tangible and innovative solutions to the challenges of today.

The CFA AGM also featured two panels. The first, entitled Canada’s Place in the World: What it Means for Canadian Agriculture, examined the complicated global political dynamics that are impacting Canadian agriculture.

The second panel of the AGM saw a return of RealAg Radio with a panel entitled Prevention, Protection, Programs: A Cross-Sector Approach to Disaster Response, which was sponsored by the Co-operators. This panel examined the various disaster relief programs for agriculture in Canada and how a cross-sector approach could improve those programs.

During the AGM, CFA President Keith Currie was elected to another term, with delegates electing a new 1st Vice-President, Jill Verwey, as well as a new 2nd Vice-President, Stéphanie Levasseur. CFA is excited to work with its new executives for the betterment of Canadian agriculture.

Recordings of the panels, political speakers as well as accompanying documentation, including passed resolutions, will be posted on the CFA website, www.cfa-fca.ca, in the coming days.

CFA’s 1st Vice-President Todd Lewis Appointed to the Senate of Canada

OTTAWA, February 11 – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) proudly congratulates our 1st Vice-President, Mr. Todd Lewis, on his appointment to the Senate of Canada.

A dedicated advocate for Canadian farmers, Todd Lewis has been a steadfast leader within the Canadian agricultural sector for many years. His commitment to strengthening the voice of farmers and addressing key agricultural challenges has been evident throughout his tenure with CFA and other agricultural organizations.

Hailing from Saskatchewan, Todd Lewis is a lifelong farmer operating a multi-generational family farm near Gray, Saskatchewan, where he produces grain, canola, lentils, and other crops alongside his family. With deep roots in the farming community, Todd has been instrumental in driving policy discussions and advocating for farmers on issues such as the federal carbon tax, Business Risk Management programs, transportation, rural connectivity, and support for producers facing severe drought conditions. During his CFA tenure, he worked alongside Senator Mary Robinson (former CFA President) and Keith Currie (current CFA President) to guide the agricultural sector through COVID-19, transportation strikes, and strategic government negotiations on key policies. Representing CFA both across Canada and on the international stage, he earned the respect of colleagues and stakeholders through his poise, determination, and keen insight.

Todd’s leadership journey began with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), where he served as a councilor before joining the Board of Directors in 2009. He was elected President of APAS in 2016, a role in which he played a pivotal role in amplifying the concerns of Saskatchewan farmers on both provincial and national stages. At CFA, Todd has been a long-serving board member and previously held the position of 2nd Vice-President before assuming his current role as 1st Vice-President and Chair of the CFA Transportation Committee.

Keith Currie, CFA President, expressed his admiration for Todd’s contributions, stating, “Todd has been a tireless champion for Canadian farmers, bringing their concerns to the forefront of policy discussions. His deep understanding of agricultural issues and dedication to the sector make him an invaluable addition to the Senate. I am proud to call Todd a good friend and Canada is in good hands with such a tremendous leader. We look forward to seeing him continue his advocacy at this new level.”

The CFA extends its heartfelt congratulations to Todd Lewis on this well-deserved appointment. We are confident that his wealth of experience, passion for agriculture, and steadfast commitment to rural communities will make a significant impact in the Senate of Canada.

Food Freedom Day is February 8, 2025

February 7th, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has calculated that by Saturday, February 8th, 2025, a Canadian household of average income will have earned enough to pay for their entire year’s grocery bill.

Each year, CFA examines the proportion of income that Canadians spend on food to explore year-over-year expenditure changes and raise consumers’ understanding of Canada’s food system, from Farm-Gate-to-Plate.

Canadians spent 10.7% of their disposable income on food in 2024, which is lower than the 11.1% of disposable income spent on food in 2023. Due to this, Food Freedom Day falls one day before it did in 2023, which was February 9th.

With food prices having seen multiple years of significant inflation, it’s important to provide further context on the Food Freedom Day metric, as the average Canadian disposable income is not representative of every Canadian’s experience or the effects that rising food prices have on them. While Canada’s food system continues to provide access to affordable food by global standards, inflation and other global events have negatively impacted food affordability and security greatly over the past few years.

Adding onto this, recent threats of tariffs from the U.S. hold the potential to create a sharp increase in many food prices, further exacerbating the struggles with food prices that many Canadians are facing. This reality only serves to emphasize the importance of maintaining open and predictable trade across highly integrated North American agri-food supply chains.

Due to this, CFA continues to analyze Food Freedom Day with an eye to the differential impact food prices have on Canadian households based on household income levels to show the percentage of disposable income that they spent on food last year. The graph below presents this information.

Source: Distributions of household economic accounts, income, consumption and saving, by characteristic, quarterly

As can be seen in the graph above, there is a large difference between how much disposable income households in the lowest income quintile (26%) and the highest income quintile (5%) spent on food and beverages throughout the year.

CFA would like to note that while Canadians have seen food prices increase steadily throughout the past few years on the grocery shelves, farmers receive a small percentage of the price that consumers pay for food, and rising retail prices are not normally reflective of what is paid at the farm-gate.

“The Food Freedom Day metric shows that despite Canada being a trusted food supplier across the world, there is still a large group of Canadians that struggle with food affordability,” said Keith Currie CFA President.

“With the threat of tariffs hanging over our head from the U.S., these food affordability concerns only highlight the critical importance of a united Canadian approach to maintaining open and predictable North American trade. This is essential to avoid exacerbating food affordability concerns and ensuring a resilient agriculture and food industry.”

Tariffs Will Have Severe Negative Consequences for Farmers and Consumers in Canada and the U.S.

February 2nd, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), who represent over 190,000 family farms across Canada, is extremely disappointed to see the widespread 25% tariffs implemented by the U.S. today.

Canada and the U.S. share one of the most significant agricultural trading relationships in the world, raising serious concerns about the short and long-term ramifications these measures will have on producers and consumers on both sides of the border. The U.S. sells more goods to Canada than to any other country. Roughly 70% of Canadian goods exported to the U.S. are used in the production of other goods. These tariffs will disrupt highly integrated supply chains, resulting in price increases for consumers and negatively affecting the competitiveness of North American agriculture.

“These tariffs are going to have negative consequences for farmers and consumers on both sides of the border. There’s no question.” said Keith Currie, CFA President.

“Our agriculture sectors rely on each other, not just to sell products to one another but also to provide essential inputs to grow food such as fertilizer. No one wins in a trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. except for our competitors around the world. Tariffs are quite simply, bad business.”

“We stand in support with the Government of Canada’s immediate response but, right now, we need strong diplomatic leadership to bring a swift resolution to these damaging trade measures. That is in everyone’s best interests.” said Currie.

CFA is extremely concerned with the potential impacts of these tariffs on the Canadian agri-food sector and is actively working with the government on next steps to ensure that impacted farmers and farm businesses will have the support they need to weather this storm, particularly those impacted by the compounding effects of Canadian countervailing measures.

Viterra-Bunge Approval Raises Concerns for Canadian Farmers

January 15th, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has concerns with the decision made by the Government of Canada to approve Bunge Ltd.’s US$8.2 billion acquisition of Viterra Ltd. While the decision to approve the merger does, in part, address some of the concerns raised by producers earlier in the process and includes a $520 million investment commitment from Bunge, the conditions set for the deal do not go far enough to truly ensure a competitive marketplace for Canadian farmers.

“We need to ensure that, at a minimum, the conditions set around this deal are being met,” said Keith Currie, President of the CFA. “Our concerns from the beginning were that this deal would not be in the best interests of farmers and the fact that Bunge has maintained its minority ownership stake in G3 certainly furthers those concerns. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it is the farmers who will pay.”

Building on the Competition Bureau’s initial assessment of the merger’s potential negative consequences on competition in regions across Canada, research conducted by the University of Saskatchewan found that this deal, without a divestment of G3 would result in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue for farmers every year.

Moving forward, CFA believes it’s critical that Government ensures all parties are financially accountable to commitments they put forward while going through the merger process. Further steps should also be taken to ensure subsequent merger reviews closely consider the impact of any further consolidation on Canadian producers in what are already highly concentrated upstream industries.

CFA Pleased to Present Report: Data as a Foundation for Sustainable Productivity Growth; Signs onto Ag Data Transparent Program as First Canadian Farm Industry Member

September 24, 2024, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is proud to present its recently published report, Data as a Foundation for Sustainable Productivity Growth.

The report emphasizes the critical need for a comprehensive policy and legislative framework to harness the benefits of advanced data analytics and precision farming. It highlights the essential role of both government and industry leaders in establishing clear parameters for data use, sharing and interoperability, alongside fostering public and private investments in connectivity infrastructure and equipment standards.

The report includes six key recommendations to harness data to help achieve agriculture’s immense potential as both an economic engine and a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

Read the full report here.

On top of the release of this report, CFA is also proud to announce that it will be the first Canadian farm industry member of the Ag Data Transparent (ADT) organization. Members are committed to supporting ADT by upholding the Core Principles and advocating for data transparency within their organization and in the agricultural industry. Companies that want to be recognized as Ag Data Transparent must submit their contracts with farmers for certification by ADT which is a not-for-profit group guided by farmer voice.

This certification looks to verify compliance with the ADT Core Principles, improve farmers trust of data platforms, simplify contracts and educate farmers on issues surrounding privacy, security and the use of agriculture data.

CFA remains dedicated to ensuring that agriculture data is used in the best interest of Canadian farmers, supporting their financial, environmental and social sustainability while also driving efficiency and growth.

CFA Pleased to see end to Labour Disruption Impacting Rail Service Across Canada

August 23rd, 2024, Ottawa – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), who represent over 190,000 farm families across Canada, is pleased that the Minister of Labour has acted in the best interests of Canadians, including farmers, by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code and directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration.

While there will be residual impacts on farmers from the gradual shutdown of service in the lead up to the lockout and the complete shutdown on Thursday, there is no doubt that a prolonged nationwide disruption of rail service would have severely impacted Canadian farmers and the Canadian economy for weeks and months to come. Our hope is that rail service will be fully restored as soon as possible, and that the CPKC work stoppage is also resolved quickly to avoid the severe consequences that a prolonged disruption will cause.

The CFA was also encouraged by the Minister’s commitment to examine the conditions leading to repeated labour disruptions in the rail sector. The agriculture sector has faced several labour disruptions in the past few years, including eight work stoppages over the past six years alone. The CFA and Canadian farmers agree. This cannot continue if Canada is to maintain its long-held reputation as a reliable source of quality agri-food products.

“The reputation of Canada’s farmers and ranchers as a trusted food supplier, both domestically and internationally was at risk with this lockout,” said Keith Currie, CFA President. “The Minister’s decision to step in and force a resolution to the disruption was the right thing to do.”