On February 8, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, convened provincial and territorial agriculture ministers to address key issues affecting the sector, particularly in the context of Canada’s trade relationship with the United States.
During the meeting, ministers emphasized the deep integration of Canadian and American supply chains, acknowledging their mutual benefits for producers and businesses. They reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration across all levels of government to mitigate potential market disruptions.
Discussions covered region-specific concerns, planned engagement strategies, and ongoing trade negotiations with key partners. The ministers highlighted the need to expand and diversify international markets to strengthen Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector and ensure long-term economic prosperity.
Building on existing initiatives, the group explored ways to enhance internal trade and leverage business risk management (BRM) programs to support producers in an evolving economic landscape. They also discussed strategies to strengthen Canada’s supply chain resilience and food security in response to shifting global trade dynamics.
Another key focus was the importance of grassroots initiatives promoting Canadian products, such as ‘choose Canadian’ campaigns, which aim to bolster domestic agricultural markets.
Commitment to Sector Growth and Stability
The Government of Canada reaffirmed its dedication to ongoing engagement and policy development to secure the best possible outcomes for the agricultural sector and Canadians alike.
“As ministers responsible for agriculture and agri-food, it’s our job to stand up for Canadian producers,” said MacAulay. “This important discussion, and our continued partnership, will help to keep our supply chains running smoothly, the sector strong, and build lasting resilience.”
Key Facts:
- Canada and the U.S. maintain one of the world’s largest bilateral agricultural trade relationships, supporting jobs and economic opportunities in both countries.
- Bilateral agri-food and seafood trade between Canada and the U.S. reached $101.3 billion CAD in 2024.
- Canadian agri-food and seafood exports totaled $99.1 billion in 2023, up from $92.9 billion in 2022.
- The agriculture and agri-food system employed 2.3 million people in 2023, accounting for one in nine Canadian jobs.
- The sector contributed $150 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2023, representing about 7% of the national economy.
- The food and beverage processing industry remains Canada’s largest manufacturing sector, making up 15.5% of manufacturing GDP and 17.8% of manufacturing jobs.
