This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news for farmers, seed-growers, ranchers and their upstream suppliers and downstream buyers. Once a week, 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. Also consider subscribing to our Agri-Food - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

Dates: 2026-04-05 to 2026-04-11

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• House Agriculture Committee Reviews Science in Agriculture and Research Centre Closures: The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food meets April 14, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in camera to consider its draft report on science in Canadian agriculture and the closure of research centres.
• Senate Agriculture and Forestry Panel Considers Food Security in Canada: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry convenes April 14 at 6:30 p.m. for witness presentations and draft report consideration on the agriculture sector’s role in national food security.
• House Procedure and House Affairs Committee Studies Civic Resilience with Agri-Food Analytics Lab Testimony: On April 16, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee will discuss the state of civic resilience in Canada, featuring the Agri-Food Analytics Lab among its witnesses, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Senate to Examine CPTPP Accession and Agricultural Trade: The Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee meets April 15 at 4:15 p.m. to discuss Bill C-13 (UK accession to CPTPP), with expected testimony from representatives of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Canadian Pork Council, and Canadian Meat Council.
• House Agriculture Committee Continues Study on Research Centres: A further in camera session for the Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee takes place April 16, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., as the committee continues its review and report deliberations on science in agriculture and research centre closures.

Federal Government News

Federal Investment in Low-Carbon Agrichemicals Targets GHG Reduction

The Government of Canada has announced an investment of up to $1,236,310 for Anodyne Chemistries Inc. through the AgriScience Program—Projects Component, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The announcement, made in Burnaby, BC, by MP Wade Chang on behalf of Minister Heath MacDonald, will support the development and demonstration of a bio-electric process that converts carbon dioxide and water into formic acid and hydrogen peroxide, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petrochemical feedstocks. These chemicals are widely used in Canadian agriculture to preserve animal feed, maintain livestock health, and sanitize equipment and crops using food-safe, environmentally responsible methods. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to modernize agrichemical supply chains and support the agricultural sector’s efforts to achieve lower emissions.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Completion of Food Supply Chain Infrastructure in Nunavik

Indigenous Services Canada announced the completion of an expanded warehouse project for the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau Québec (FCNQ) in Montréal, funded by nearly $1 million from the federal government. The facility now includes 1,580 m² of new refrigerated space, 6,500 m² of added warehousing, and 1,670 m² for offices and shared areas. These upgrades are set to improve logistical capacity for FCNQ, which supplies fresh food and goods to 14 Inuit cooperatives throughout Nunavik. The expanded facility is expected to enhance storage, support bulk purchasing, help stabilize prices for northern families, and mitigate risks of shortages that can arise due to weather disruption in northern supply chains.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Saskatchewan Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Launches Cohort Seven

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, partnering with the Government of Saskatchewan, announced the mentor-mentee pairings for the seventh cohort of the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program in Regina. The program spans 18 months, providing emerging agricultural leaders the opportunity to engage in board governance, advocacy, business development, and financial management within the agricultural sector. Funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership—a $3.5 billion federal-provincial-territorial initiative running from 2023 to 2028—the initiative is designed to strengthen leadership across Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry. Selection is handled by the Canadian Western Agribition Advisory Committee, which gives priority to applicants without access to similar programs.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Statistics Canada Publishes Farm Input Price Index for Q4 2025

Statistics Canada released its Farm Input Price Index for the fourth quarter of 2025, providing updated price data indexed to 2012 for agricultural inputs. This dataset serves as a benchmark for tracking cost changes in the sector, informing input procurement, farm budgeting, and price trend analysis for farm businesses, agribusiness professionals, and policy planners.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Canadian Health Measures Survey Releases Environmental Laboratory Data

New environmental laboratory data from the 2022 to 2024 cycle of the Canadian Health Measures Survey is now available. The released data includes blood and urine measures for Canadians aged 3 to 79, covering a range of environmental chemicals such as metals, parabens, pesticides, flame retardants, and chlorinated paraffins. The dataset allows the agri-food industry, regulators, and researchers to analyze trends in population exposure to agricultural and food-related environmental substances.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Quebec Enacts Law to Streamline Agricultural Market Regulation

Quebec sanctioned a law amending procedures under the Law on the marketing of agricultural, food, and fishing products, reducing board vice-presidents and quorum, modifying notice publication, decentralizing subpoenas, and formalizing the board's mediation service.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Grain Classification Training in Quebec Transferred to ITAQ

The Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec has transferred full responsibility for grain classification training to the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec (ITAQ), with registration now open and training access starting April 13, 2026.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Alberta Launches Trade Mission and Advisory Committee for Agri-Food Exports to China

Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, is in China from April 10 to 16 to promote Alberta agri-food exports during the China International Consumer Products Expo. An Alberta-China Advisory Committee has also been launched to support trade and investment opportunities, with agriculture as a key priority.

Sources: www.alberta.ca, www.alberta.ca

BC Invests in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Expansion

British Columbia awarded over $7 million from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to support manufacturing expansions—including local agri-food processor Farming Karma—and create 101 new jobs in the southern Interior.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Ontario Man Convicted for Unlicensed Meat Slaughter and Obstruction

Two individuals in London, Ontario were fined for operating a meat plant without a licence and for obstructing a food safety inspector, following the discovery of 20 uninspected lamb carcasses at an unlicensed facility.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Food security expert urges Canada to invest in agriculture, not just military capabilities: Commentary examines calls to direct greater national investment toward agriculture to bolster domestic food systems.

.