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: 2025-12-14 to 2025-12-20

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial Government News
• 💬 Government Consultations
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Canadian Federal Government News

Canada Secures African Swine Fever Zoning Arrangement with Philippines

On December 16, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that Canada has finalized an African swine fever (ASF) zoning arrangement with the Philippines. The agreement allows Canadian pork exports to continue from ASF-free areas should the disease be detected domestically, limiting trade restrictions to the affected region. The Philippines, designated as a priority market under Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, imported $279 million in Canadian pork and pork products in 2024. Canada joins the US, EU, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and UAE in holding ASF zoning agreements, which collectively cover approximately 40% of the nation's pork export value. The CFIA underscores this move as integral to ongoing preparedness measures and continued technical collaboration following Minister Heath MacDonald's July meeting in Manila with Philippines Secretary of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and United Kingdom Sign MOU to Improve Regulatory Efficiency for Animal Vaccines

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing efficiency in the regulatory oversight of veterinary biologics, including animal vaccines. Signed on December 17 by Dr. Mary Jane Ireland (CFIA Animal Health Directorate) and Gavin Hall (UK VMD), the agreement establishes new frameworks for pre-market assessment and approval. It calls for sharing scientific knowledge, discussing joint priorities, and exploring joint product reviews to curtail regulatory duplication, reduce the burden on industry, and promote swifter access to essential vaccines. This collaboration underpins industry access to veterinary products and aligns with efforts to support farmers and supply chain security.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada Water Agency Invests Over $4.5 Million in 39 New Freshwater Projects

Minister Julie Dabrusin announced, on December 18, a federal commitment of more than $4.5 million for 39 projects focused on freshwater improvement, including 23 community-led initiatives and 11 innovation projects under the EcoAction program, as well as five initiatives under the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. Recipients include the British Columbia Conservation Foundation, City of Kelowna, and Sumas First Nation for activities ranging from pollutant filtering and rain garden deployment to collaborative workshops integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge for river habitat restoration.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Federal Investment of $3.3 Million to Establish Innovation Garage in Manitoba’s Heavy Equipment Sector

Prairies Economic Development Canada announced $3.3 million in federal support for RRC Polytech’s Innovation Garage on December 16. The funds will expand applied research infrastructure for the Manitoba heavy equipment and vehicle cluster, including a microgrid energy lab and a hydrogen/fuel cell propulsion lab. The investment complements $3.3 million from Manitoba’s provincial government. The project is designed to foster collaboration, accelerate technology adoption among SMEs, support skills development, and bolster the Vehicle Technology Centre’s clean technology program.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Provincial Government News

Manitoba Announces Second Round of Funding for Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Project

The Manitoba government has committed a second tranche of funding for the Cereals Canada-led Gate project, lifting total provincial support to $20 million. The forthcoming facility will showcase Canadian grains to global customers and enable expanded testing and technical capacity for the sector.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Quebec’s Regions and Rurality Fund Opens New Call for Proximity Commerce Projects

Businesses and social enterprises in municipalities under 20,000 people are invited to apply for Quebec’s $50 million Regions and Rurality Fund for proximity commerce, aiming to improve access to essentials including food and fuel over the next five years.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Nova Scotia Updates Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations

The Nova Scotia government has amended aquaculture licensing regulations, introducing a 30-day public comment window for new and expanding sites and streamlining the approval process for shellfish and aquatic plant farms. The changes are designed to align the review process with project size and risk.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Manitoba GRO Program Invests $2.6 Million in Parkland and Westman Municipalities Infrastructure

Manitoba has announced initial funding awards—totaling $2.6 million—under the Manitoba GRO program for rural infrastructure projects, including upgrades to bridges, roads, veterinary facilities, and recreation centers in Parkland and Westman regions.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Government Consultations

Canada Launches Consultation for Rural Development Action Plan

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada opened a consultation on December 15, seeking input from rural stakeholders to inform the federal Rural Development Action Plan—open until February 6, 2026.

Sources: ised-isde.canada.ca

Consultation on Driving Effective Carbon Markets in Canada

Environment and Climate Change Canada launched a consultation on December 18, inviting comments on strengthening national carbon market benchmarks while maintaining flexibility in provincial and territorial system design. Feedback will be considered until January 30, 2026.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Consultation: Review of Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019

Environment and Climate Change Canada is gathering stakeholder feedback from December 15 to February 13 about challenges and regulatory burden experienced under the Environmental Emergency Regulations, with a potential for future regulatory amendments.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Inflation, tariffs and maplewashing: The big food stories for Canada in 2025: Examines industry challenges in pricing and country-of-origin branding.
• ‘It’s the cubicle around the corner’: Why more working Canadians are struggling to pay for food: Food insecurity trends among working Canadians.
• Sylvain Charlebois: The quiet transformation of Canada’s grocery industry: Opinion analysis on shifts in the grocery sector.
• How Canada’s farmers are producing record crops despite droughts and floods: Coverage of agricultural productivity under weather variability.
• Low-interest loan program launched to help support P.E.I.'s next generation of farmers: New financial supports for emerging farm operators in P.E.I.
• Paging Dr. Paul: Food safety tips: General updates on food safety for consumers.
• U.S. targeting dairy, Online Streaming Act in USMCA negotiations, top Trump trade official says: Developments in USMCA talks and dairy sector implications.
• P.E.I. announces new programs to support oyster growers and processors: Overview of regional aquaculture initiatives.

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