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: 2026-04-12 to 2026-04-18

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry: Food Security in Canada (April 21 & 23): The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will meet on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. and April 23 at 8:00 a.m. to examine the agri-food sector's role in Canada's food security. Meetings will be held by videoconference in Room B45, Senate of Canada Building.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs: Bill C-18, Comprehensive Economic Partnership with Indonesia (April 22): The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade meets April 22 at 4:15 p.m. for in camera hearings on Bill C-18, which implements the Canada-Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership. Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and industry representatives will appear.
• House Committee on International Trade: Free Trade within Canada (April 23): The House of Commons International Trade Committee holds hearings on April 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Free Trade within Canada, featuring witnesses from academia and the agri-food industry, including Maple Leaf Foods and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Federal Government News

Federal Repayable Funding Announced for Sai Krishna Foods Expansion in New Brunswick

On April 14, the Government of Canada announced repayable funding of $541,000 to Sai Krishna Foods for the expansion and modernization of its production facility in Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick. The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser. Improvements to the facility will accelerate operational growth and add production and employment capacity, with further hiring anticipated in the coming months. This project also received up to $50,000 in non-repayable support from Opportunities New Brunswick. The investment is intended to improve productivity and position the manufacturer to pursue new market opportunities in food manufacturing and processing. The operational upgrades align with broader federal efforts to strengthen regional agri-food supply chains.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister Sidhu Leads Canadian Delegation to South China, Establishes New Agri-Food Partnerships

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, completed a trade mission to South China from April 16. This marks the first ministerial visit to the region since 2018. The mission included bilateral meetings with Chinese officials and participation in the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), where Canada was named Guest Country of Honour. Sidhu facilitated the signing of 24 commercial agreements between Canadian and Chinese entities, representing millions in new partnerships for sectors including agri-food, fish, and consumer products. Discussions with Alibaba and Jingdong Group explored e-commerce expansion for Canadian agri-food exports. Minister Sidhu and Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation attended the Taste of Canada event in Hainan, reopening opportunities for Canadian beef exports. The federal mission included meetings on market entry for Canadian products using Chinese e-commerce platforms and regulatory supply chain requirements for electric vehicles.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Employment Supports Programs for Agricultural Youth: Recent Government Investments

Employment and Social Development Canada provided an update on April 13 on federal investments directed at youth in the agricultural sector. The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP), administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, offers financial incentives to agricultural employers to hire youth and provide work experience. This initiative is part of a suite of programs under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), designed to create sector-specific training and job placements, with the goal of addressing industry workforce requirements. In addition, other departmental programs, like the Student Work Placement Program and the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, continue to deliver wage subsidies and training supports for the agri-food sector. These measures target both rural and urban youth, including those facing barriers to employment.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Database Released: Local Food Infrastructure Fund Large Scale Projects Intake

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has published a new database on April 13 detailing the list of projects funded under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund Large Scale Projects intake. The data aims to provide transparency on federal investments in supply chain modernization and food infrastructure improvement for local and regional food systems. Industry stakeholders can access the database, which contains information on project scope, recipient organizations, and geographic reach.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Update from Secretary of State McLean: New Measures to Address Food Insecurity

The Honourable Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors), issued a media notice for an update on April 17 in Victoria, BC, concerning recent federal measures aimed at mitigating food insecurity. The announcement to be held at Sabzi Mandi Supermarket will cover recent actions and support programs under Employment and Social Development Canada. Details regarding specific program adjustments are expected to be forthcoming at the event.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Farm Product Prices Data Published for February 2026

Statistics Canada released the latest monthly farm product price data for February 2026 on April 14. The dataset includes provincial-level prices for grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. This information is available on the StatsCan website and enables market participants to track producer price movements across the country.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan Updates Rural Employment Dashboard for March 2026

Statistics Canada has updated its interactive dashboard covering employment by industry in rural Canada, providing new analysis for March 2026. This dashboard offers detailed employment statistics disaggregated by sector and region and may be used as a tool for evaluating labor trends in rural agri-food workforce segments.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Input-Output Tables for 2024 Now Available

Statistics Canada published national input-output tables for 2024 on April 15, along with revisions for 2022 and 2023 tables. These data sets outline the flow of goods and services within the Canadian economy, including agri-food supply chains, and serve as a key resource for understanding sectoral interdependencies and economic impacts.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Quebec Engages Food Sector to Broaden Access to Public Markets

The Centre d'acquisitions gouvernementales in Quebec held webinars this spring to inform food distributors and processors about opportunities in public procurement and strategies to increase the presence of Quebec products in public markets.

Sources: www.quebec.ca

Nova Scotia Launches New Apple Processing Equipment with Provincial Funding

The Station Food Hub Company in Newport Station, NS, has installed new apple slicing and packaging equipment with $97,045 in provincial funding, supporting expanded market access for local growers into institutional settings such as schools and health care facilities.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

Kootenay Manufacturing Businesses in B.C. Receive Funding to Boost Production

Two businesses in the Kootenays are receiving a combined $700,000 from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, facilitating equipment purchases and facility expansion for AgTech and food manufacturers in the region.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta Premier’s Summit Addresses Newcomer Integration in Ag Workforce

Alberta’s fourth Premier’s Summit on Fairness for Newcomers focused on credential recognition and connecting skilled immigrants with employment opportunities, with input expected to inform future policies related to labor supply in agriculture and related sectors.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Prime Minister and Manitoba Premier Commit to Churchill Plus Project, Support for Agriculture

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew met with Prime Minister Carney to discuss regulatory coordination for the Churchill Plus Project and to seek federal support for Manitoba’s agri-food sector and supply chain resilience.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Government Consultations

Consultation on Proposed Registration of Rodent Control Products Containing Cholecalciferol

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency is consulting until April 26 on the proposed registration of Cholecalciferol Technical and related rodent baits for indoor and outdoor pest control; the evaluation determined health and environmental risks as acceptable under the proposed uses.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Consultation on Prohexadione-Calcium Re-evaluation Closing April 19

Health Canada is accepting feedback until April 19 on the proposal to continue registration for prohexadione-calcium and associated products, with updated standard label statements under consideration.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Opinion: How Canada can protect its food system in an increasingly uncertain world: Analysis on the challenges and protection pathways for Canada's food system as global volatility affects supply chains.
• Globe Climate: Growing your own food: Coverage on the trend toward household and community food self-sufficiency.
• Seeds planted for in-depth review of Saskatchewan farming, province says: Report on a new provincial review process examining farming practices and sector challenges in Saskatchewan.

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