Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news for farmers, seed-growers, fertilizers, ranchers, cattlemen and cattlewomen, as well as their upstream suppliers and downstream buyers in food manufacturing and processing. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Agri-Food? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Freight & Ports and Oil & Gas.

Dates: 2025-11-30 to 2025-12-06

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• House Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee: Supplementary Estimates and Broiler Meat Importation: On December 8, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee will review Supplementary Estimates (B), 2025-26, with appearances by Minister Heath MacDonald and officials from the CFIA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The session runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., including an in-camera discussion on broiler meat mislabeling.
• House Health Committee: Supplementary Estimates and Antimicrobial Resistance: On December 9, the Health Committee meets from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to discuss Supplementary Estimates for agencies including the CFIA and Public Health Agency of Canada, followed by a session on antimicrobial resistance with witnesses from CIHR and PHAC.
• Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee: Bill C-15 Budget Elements Review: On December 9, the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee will review elements of Bill C-15 with Shannon Nix, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
• Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee: Bill C-15 Budget Elements Draft Report: On December 11, the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee will consider a draft report on elements of Bill C-15 in a session scheduled for 8:00 a.m., held in camera.

Canadian Federal Government News

CFIA Repeals Outdated Regulations and Updates Plant Protection Rules

On December 3, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency repealed several outdated regulations, including those tied to compensation for birds lost in the 2004 avian influenza outbreak, stone fruit trees disposed due to Plum Pox Virus between 2004 and 2011, and trees removed to control the Asian Long-horned Beetle from 2013 to 2019. Two regulations and a Ministerial Order related to the Golden Nematode in Central Saanich, BC, were also repealed, with restrictions narrowed to the small area still affected. Updates to the Plant Protection Regulations now incorporate domestic movement controls by reference, enabling CFIA to respond more quickly to scientific and international requirements. The amendments also remove unnecessary requirements and facilitate future adoption of electronic certification systems, increasing regulatory agility for plant protection and pest management.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister MacDonald’s Quebec Tour: Workforce and Trade Discussions

Minister Heath MacDonald, accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary Sophie Chatel, completed a tour in Quebec City meeting with producers, UPA leadership, and Quebec Minister Donald Martel. Topics included trade priorities under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement, the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, and reciprocal standards for imported foods. The Minister participated in the General Congress of the Union des producteurs agricoles, discussing financial assistance and workforce reliability. A roundtable with processing vegetable sector producers focused on trade barriers and market access, with MacDonald voicing support for reducing obstacles. The tour included visits to research facilities at Université Laval and a meeting with Ideal Can on packaging solutions.

Sources: www.canada.ca

CFIA Mandates Testing for Iranian Pistachios Amid Salmonella Outbreak

The CFIA, responding to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to Iranian pistachios, has banned imports of pistachios and pistachio products from Iran since September 27, 2025. For products imported prior to the ban, all federally licensed importers and manufacturers must now hold and test them for Salmonella before sale, including products that have not been recalled. These requirements are tied to Safe Food for Canadians licence conditions and remain in effect as the investigation continues. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 155 laboratory-confirmed Salmonella cases in Canada, with multiple recall notifications issued. CFIA continues inspection and enforcement, with penalties for noncompliance including monetary fines, licence suspension, or prosecution.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Senate Committee Examines Food Insecurity and School Food Programs

The Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee heard from Sarah Stern (Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security), Tamara Petresin (University of Guelph), Steven Webb (Global Institute for Food Security), and others on December 4. Stern presented statistics showing 10 million Canadians affected by food insecurity, and discussed household demographics most vulnerable to resource shortages. Petresin described the Food Uniting Neighbours study, which used community-led interventions in Guelph, such as cafés and food skills workshops. Senators inquired about the National School Food Program and its potential for reducing food insecurity. Webb warned of slowing productivity in agriculture, and Fraser (Arrell Food Institute) connected food insecurity to rising housing costs and wage pressures. Dutton (Dalhousie University) discussed the role of income policy in addressing food insecurity.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Senate Finance Committee Reviews Budget Act and Tax Credits for Agri-Food Sector

On December 3, the Senate National Finance Committee reviewed Bill C-15, covering investment tax credits for carbon utilization, clean electricity, and scientific research. Max Baylor (Department of Finance) clarified the extension and cost of credits for businesses in provinces with acceptable storage regulations. The committee discussed clean electricity tax credits for Crown corporations, changes to SR&ED incentives, and enforcement resources for the Canada Labour Code. The repeal of the digital services tax and implications for farm co-op rebates were addressed. Tax credits for personal support workers, mineral exploration, carbon capture, and biomass were discussed, with details on immediate expensing for capital expenditures and transfer pricing rule changes. Senators raised issues about youth employment, charitable donations, and amendments affecting osteopaths.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

Senate Committee Reviews Amendments to Human Pathogens and Toxins Act

The Senate Social Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Moodie, considered amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act in Bill C-15. Kimby Barton (PHAC) described plans to modernize the biosecurity framework, with new tiered security screening focused on containment level 4 facilities. Concerns about administrative burden for high-risk facilities were noted, and Barton discussed impacts on AI-enabled research, vaccine organizations, and smaller labs. Penalties for communicating sensitive information to foreign entities were clarified. Emergency preparedness and facility protection were covered, with the agency reporting low lab-acquired infections and high compliance. The meeting also examined the National School Food Program targeting 400,000 children annually, with $1 billion in funding and ongoing legislative and infrastructure changes.

Sources: senparlvu.parl.gc.ca

StatsCan: Most Principal Field Crop Production Up in 2025, Corn and Soybeans Down

Statistics Canada reported higher production for wheat, canola, barley, oats, dry peas, and lentils in 2025, while corn and soybeans posted lower yields compared to 2024. Western Canada benefited from favourable late-season weather, contributing to improved crop development and yield outcomes.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Farm Product Price Index Rises 8.3% in September 2025

In September 2025, the Farm Product Price Index increased 8.3% year-over-year. The total livestock and animal products index posted gains that outweighed declines in the total crops index, indicating shifting price pressures across commodity groups.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Preliminary Farm Revenues and Expenses Data Released for 2024

Statistics Canada published preliminary data on farm operating revenues and expenses for 2024, based on the Agriculture Taxation Data Program. The dataset provides reference points for year-over-year financial performance across the sector.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Potato Production Drops After Record Run, Drought Hits Eastern Provinces

Canadian potato production declined by 0.9% in 2025 to 125.8 million hundredweight, ending a four-year record streak. Prince Edward Island saw a 15.9% decrease and New Brunswick a 4.7% drop, both affected by drought during the growing season. Alberta contributed 27.1% of total Canadian output, remaining the top producer, followed by Manitoba (21.4%) and PEI (17.3%).

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Provincial Government News

Ontario Welcomes $533 Million Investment in Agri-Food Manufacturing

Lee Li Holdings Inc. will upgrade and expand facilities and build a new bottling and packing plant in Mississauga, creating 275 jobs. Ontario is providing $90 million in support via the Invest Ontario Fund.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Alinova Canada Invests $24 Million in Ontario Soymilk Facility

Alinova Canada Inc. will build the country’s first non-GMO soymilk powder processing plant in Morrisburg. The facility will create 15 jobs and use Ontario-grown soybeans.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia Launches Farmland Access Program for New Producers

Nova Scotia’s Farm Loan Board will provide $5 million over three years in a new program offering land leasing and financing options to new and expanding agricultural producers.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

New Brunswick Announces Compensation for Crown Land Blueberry Producers

Eligible wild blueberry producers with Crown land leases affected by August closures due to wildfire risk can apply for financial assistance under a new initiative.

Sources: www2.gnb.ca

Quebec Adjusts Consumption Milk Price Grids Effective February 2026

The Quebec Agricultural and Food Markets Board modified consumption milk pricing regulations, with new price grids coming into force on February 2, 2026.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Seeds of change: How smart shifts could help strengthen Canada’s agri-food supply chain: Article examines supply chain strategies in Canadian agri-food.
• Study that said glyphosate herbicide is safe retracted 25 years after publication: Coverage of a retracted glyphosate safety study.
• Health Matters: Roundup safety research retracted by its publisher: Report on the publisher’s decision to retract Roundup safety research.
• Decades-old study on common weed killer retracted after journal editor says Monsanto may have helped write it: CBC details the retraction of a glyphosate study amid authorship concerns.
• Worst bird-flu season in years hits Alberta’s poultry farmers: Alberta poultry producers confront severe avian influenza impacts.
• 'This is the new slavery': Migrant farm workers underpaid, abused and injured: National Post investigates working conditions for migrant farm workers.
• More and more British Columbians dealing with food insecurity amid affordability crisis: Food insecurity rises in British Columbia amid affordability pressures.

.