The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), in partnership with RealAgriculture, this week hosted an Ag Policy Exchange webinar analyzing the directional impact of the Halifax Statement coming out of the federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) agricultural ministers' meeting. The session features an interview between Kelvin Heppner and federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald. Minister MacDonald emphasizes... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Threats of a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian dairy exports to the United States have put supply management back in the spotlight of trade negotiations between the two countries, creating friction for cross-border supply chains. While milk for the domestic market remains the priority for Canadian producers, says Dairy Farmers of Canada president David... Read More
The federal agriculture minister says he sees momentum for changes in Canada's next five-year agricultural policy framework that reflect how much the world has changed since the current framework was negotiated. Heath MacDonald is pushing back against stakeholder skepticism that the newly signed Halifax Statement charts a path toward the status quo, failing to adequately... Read More
The current agriculture policy framework is set to expire March 31, 2028. Like the five-year agreements before it, the ag policy framework is the umbrella policy program and funding envelope that governs a host of programs, from farm-level grants, to national research clusters. There are two major parts to any ag policy framework: federal initiatives... Read More
As Canada’s agricultural policy framework approaches its scheduled 2028 renewal, industry leaders are urging decision-makers to move beyond broad priority statements and address urgent global realities. With geopolitical shifts, trade vulnerabilities, and climate impacts accelerating, the sector requires targeted, adaptable programming rather than standard administrative updates. In advance of Thursday's webinar on the topic, Lyndsey... Read More
By Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) “A world-leading agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector that is competitive, innovative, resilient, and drives economic growth” is a noble vision for the sector. Yet, coming at the start of the Halifax Statement, it seems like fluff, quickly followed by more fluff, amounting... Read More
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods under Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act on Monday. Trump signed three proclamations to impose the tariffs "in response to Canada’s discriminatory treatment of American products," namely autos, dairy, and U.S. liquor. As written, the tariff threat would take effect in... Read More
The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest and most cargo-diverse port connecting Canada to 170 markets around the world. This critical piece of trade infrastructure moves $1 billion worth of goods every single day, accounting for 40 per cent of Canada’s trade in goods beyond North America. The Port of Vancouver has the potential to... Read More
Agriculture ministers from across Canada concluded their annual federal-provincial-territorial summit in Halifax on Friday, after reaching an agreement on what should be included in the "Halifax Statement" and outlining a series of adjustments to the AgriStability risk management program. Co-chaired by Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture... Read More
The research farms at Indian Head and Scott, Saskatchewan may continue to operate under the province's oversight, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Province of Saskatchewan. The two facilities are among the seven AAFC research sites nationwide that the federal government planned to close... Read More