Federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) Agriculture Ministers met virtually this week to discuss actions to strengthen Canada’s agri-food sector. Key topics included enhanced risk management, interprovincial trade, and expanded market access.
AgriStability Program Temporarily Enhanced
To help producers manage climate and trade-related challenges, Ministers approved temporary changes to AgriStability for 2025. The compensation rate will increase from 80% to 90%, and the maximum payment will rise from $3 million to $6 million.
Starting in 2026, provinces and territories will have the option to adopt a new inventory valuation method for on-farm use. Ministers also agreed to pursue approval for including rented pasture feed costs as allowable expenses and will continue reviewing other AgriStability expense categories.
Reducing Internal Trade Barriers
Ministers discussed ways to improve interprovincial trade, including expanding access to federal food licences, increasing slaughter capacity in underserved regions, and allowing trade of low-risk manufactured foods without a federal licence. Two pilot programs on meat trade and slaughter are being fast-tracked to support these goals.
International Market Access a Key Priority
Ministers emphasized the need to maintain and diversify global markets, including efforts through the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office. They also called for high-level engagement with China to reduce tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood.
In 2024, Canada exported $92.2 billion in agriculture and agri-food products and $100.3 billion including fish and seafood—up from $99.2 billion in 2023.
Next Steps
The next FPT Agriculture Ministers’ meeting will be held in person in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from September 7 to 9, 2025.
For more information, visit: https://agriculture.canada.ca
