Ottawa, ON, November 6, 2026 – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) welcomes measures in Budget 2026 that recognize the importance of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector, while noting that significant opportunities remain to strengthen the industry’s long-term competitiveness and growth.
Among the measures announced today, CFA welcomes provisions that support intergenerational farm transfers, investments in Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program, and efforts to expand pathways to permanent residency that could help address ongoing labour shortages affecting agricultural employers.
“Canadian agriculture and agri-food has tremendous potential to drive economic growth, strengthen food security, and support communities across the country,” said Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “We are pleased to see the government take steps in Budget 2026 that provide support in key areas like intergenerational family farm transfers.”
CFA sees these measures as a positive continuation of recent federal initiatives aimed at supporting long-term investment and growth across the agriculture sector. Building on measures such as the Productivity Mega Deduction and the development of a National Food Security Strategy, Budget 2026 signals a continued recognition of the need to strengthen Canada’s food and agriculture production capacity, improve competitiveness, and create the conditions for sustained investment in agricultural businesses.
At the same time, CFA notes that several priorities for Canadian agriculture remain unaddressed.
“While today’s budget includes measures that continue to move us in the right direction, additional action will be needed to address rising diesel costs and improve Canada’s tax competitiveness relative to major agricultural trading partners. Mitigating the impact of rising costs and continued focus on Canada’s global competitiveness are essential to the resilience of Canadian agriculture as it looks to develop new markets domestically and abroad,” said Currie.
“We are also disappointed that the budget fails to provide greater clarity for salmon farmers in British Columbia, who continue to face significant policy uncertainty despite their important contribution to local communities, food production, and Canada’s agri-food economy.”
CFA will continue to review the details of Budget 2026 and work with government officials to ensure the benefits of these measures are realized for Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses.