Government of Canada Archives - Newsline by Cole's Ag

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on June 15, 2026, 10:09am

Meat Processors Welcome National Food Security Strategy but Warn of Export Market Risks and Labour Gaps

June 15, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and Canada’s federally licensed red meat processing sector welcome the Government of Canada’s recently announced National Food Security Strategy, particularly its commitment to strengthening domestic food processing capacity. However, the sector is raising concerns about proposed exemptions from federal food safety requirements for non-federally licensed processors, which could create risks for international market access, as well as the absence of measures to address persistent labour shortages in the agri-food sector.

“Canada’s meat processors are at the heart of agricultural communities across the country,” said Sylvain Fournaise, Chair of the CMC. “We welcome the initial investments aimed at expanding domestic food processing capacity, especially at a time when many companies— including small and medium-sized beef processors—are facing significant financial pressures driven by high input costs and evolving global market conditions.”

The strategy includes $1 billion in Farm Credit Canada financing for food and agriculture businesses, $150 million for small and medium-sized enterprises, and $100 million to support the commercialization of agricultural innovation. However, it also proposes exemptions from the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations for certain non-federally licensed processors. These regulations underpin Canada’s federally inspected meat system and guide Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversight of federally licensed establishments, ensuring consistent food safety standards for both domestic and international markets.

“The Canadian food safety system, administered by the CFIA under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, is recognized internationally as a benchmark for high standards,” said Kyle Larkin, President & CEO of the CMC. “Any measures that create parallel or differentiated regulatory frameworks risk undermining the confidence that underpins Canada’s export market access. Federally licensed processors continue to invest heavily to maintain the highest food safety standards, and it is important that regulatory changes do not unintentionally disadvantage that system.”

Despite significant investments aimed at expanding food processing capacity, the strategy does not include a plan to address ongoing labour shortages in the agri-food sector. With the expiration of the Agri-Food Pilot in the spring of 2025, the CMC continues to work with industry partners to advocate for a permanent immigration stream for agri-food workers to support longterm sector growth and resilience.

“Many meat processors across Canada are unable to operate at full capacity due to persistent labour shortages,” added Larkin. “This is not only affecting current production and Canada’s food security objectives, but is also constraining planned investments in facility expansion.

Without a durable solution following the Agri-Food Pilot, the sector’s ability to contribute fully to Canada’s economy will remain limited.”

The Canadian Meat Council looks forward to working with the Government of Canada to advance policies that strengthen domestic food processing capacity, ensure regulatory consistency, and support a stable and skilled workforce, while maintaining Canada’s internationally recognized food safety standards.

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About the Canadian Meat Council: The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is the national voice of Canada’s federally licensed red meat industry, representing packers, processors, and suppliers across the beef, pork, veal, lamb, and bison sectors. For more than a century, CMC has championed policies that strengthen the industry’s global competitiveness, from securing market access at home and abroad to advancing a modern, evidence-based regulatory environment. CMC members take pride in delivering world-class, high-quality, safe food to consumers both at home and in markets around the world. Recognized as a trusted authority and voice on red meat-related issues, CMC works closely with government and stakeholders to support high standards in food safety, animal welfare, and sustainability, while delivering value and advocacy for its growing membership. For more information, visit www.meatcouncil.ca

For media inquiries, please contact:

Julia Pennella
Canadian Meat Council (CMC)
647-987-1934 | julia@meatcouncil.ca

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on June 12, 2026, 1:53pm

Grain Growers of Canada Welcomes National Food Security Strategy, Calls for Concrete Action

June 12, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s National Food Security Strategy and its recognition that keeping food affordable means supporting the farmers who grow it through modern regulations, reliable supply chains, domestic market opportunities, and successful farm succession.

Grain farmers are at the heart of our country’s food security, with up to 30 per cent of their annual crop production destined for Canadian markets. Their ability to produce competitively depends on the broader cost environment around them, including access to inputs, efficient regulations, reliable transportation systems, and market opportunities at home.

Recent commitments to update the mandate of Health Canada’s Pesticides Regulatory Directorate, formerly the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, to account for food security and the cost of food are an important step.

The government’s move to improve access to crop protection tools, while maintaining Canada’s high safety standards, further reflects the need for a regulatory system that supports innovation, competitiveness, and food security.

With over 97 per cent of Canadian farms family owned and operated, GGC welcomes the government’s focus on succession planning, including measures to help young farmers enter the sector, access financing, and take over family operations. The next generation of farmers will be critical to the future of Canadian agriculture and the country’s long-term food security.

GGC will be looking to ensure these commitments translate into concrete action: faster approvals for key farm inputs, reliable supply chains that move Canadian grain to market, expanded domestic market opportunities, and increased federal investment in agricultural research.

Canada’s grain farmers are ready to do their part to support food affordability and food security for Canadians and customers around the world. The right policy environment will help them deliver.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For more information, please contact:
Hana Sabah
Sr. Manager, Communications
Grain Growers of Canada
514-834-8841 | hana@graingrowers.ca

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on February 6, 2026, 9:32am

Grain sector warns of information gaps in AAFC research reductions, calls for immediate program impact disclosure

Feb. 6, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.)—Grain Growers of Canada is calling on the federal government to provide clarity on the impacts of recent staffing reductions and announced closures or consolidations of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research facilities, stating that downstream consequences cannot be assessed without clear, program-level information.

“Transparency is essential when decisions affect the foundation of Canada’s agricultural research system,” said Scott Hepworth, chair of Grain Growers of Canada and Saskatchewan grain farmer.

“Without clear disclosure of what research capacity is being reduced or eliminated, the sector cannot understand the long-term risks to production and competitiveness,” he added. “It must be clear what capacity is being lost, where, and with what consequences.”

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has cited personnel confidentiality in limiting details on the announced changes. Grain Growers of Canada emphasized that while personnel confidentiality must be respected, it does not, and should not, prevent disclosure of which programs and research capacities are being impacted.

“Personnel confidentiality is not a barrier to clarity on program impacts,” Hepworth said. “Clarity of affected programs, facilities, and research capacity is both possible and necessary.”

The scale and pace of the announced reductions are raising serious concerns across the grain sector about long-term impacts on research capacity, regional expertise, and innovation pipelines. Decisions of this magnitude require clear impact assessments explaining how applied breeding programs, agronomic research, long-term datasets, and region-specific expertise were evaluated.

“The absence of clear information shifts risk directly onto the sector,” Hepworth said. “When institutional knowledge is lost, long-term datasets are broken, or regional research expertise disappears, those losses cannot simply be reversed, and the consequences will be felt long after these decisions are made.”

Grain Growers of Canada stressed that the release of timely, detailed information is essential. Early certainty around affected facilities, programs, and timelines would allow research partners and producer organizations to respond, mitigate disruption, and protect the integrity of ongoing research and production cycles.

Grain Growers of Canada is calling for immediate disclosure of affected programs, facilities, and research capacity, and will continue to engage with government to ensure decisions affecting

Canada’s agricultural research system do not undermine its global competitiveness, long-term viability, or farmers’ livelihoods.

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For more information, please contact:
Hana Sabah
Senior Communications Manager
Grain Growers of Canada
514-834-8841 | hana@graingrowers.ca

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on May 13, 2025, 12:05pm

Grain Growers of Canada Welcomes New Cabinet, Urges Immediate Action on Trade and Tax Relief

May 13, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomes the appointment of Canada’s new federal Cabinet and urges immediate action to support grain farmers and protect the viability of the sector. As Parliament prepares to return, swift action is needed to safeguard farmers’ bottom line, sustain Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of grain and grain products, and prevent further strain on the economy.

To grow Canada’s $45-billion grain export sector and secure the future of family-run grain farms, GGC is calling for urgent progress on three fronts: resetting trade relationships with Canada’s two largest trading partners for grain and grain products, the United States and China; passing legislation to permanently remove the carbon tax from on-farm activities; and issuing a formal reversal of the capital gains tax increase. Canadian grain producers are looking for these measures to be addressed before the summer recess to prevent further strain on family farm operations, export competitiveness, and the broader economy.

GGC looks forward to working with Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald, Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne, Minister responsible for Canada–U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin. GGC equally welcomes Secretaries of State Buckley Belanger, John Zerucelli and Rechie Valdez.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

Media Contact:

Hana Sabah
Manager, Communications
Grain Growers of Canada
E: hana@graingrowers.ca | P: 514-834-8841