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: 2026-04-19 to 2026-04-25

📋 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

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee to Study Business Risk Management Programs: On April 28, the House of Commons Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee will examine Business Risk Management Programs, with witnesses including representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Keystone Agricultural Producers.
• Public Accounts Committee Review on First Nations Program Follow-up: The Public Accounts Committee meets April 27 to review follow-up on programs for First Nations from the 2025 Fall Reports of the Auditor General of Canada.
• Fisheries and Oceans Committee Hearing on Softshell Clam Fisheries: On April 29, Fisheries and Oceans Committee convenes to focus on recreational and traditional fishing for softshell clams, with officials from CFIA, Fisheries and Oceans, and Environment participating.
• Science and Research Committee to Discuss Antimicrobial Resistance: Scheduled for April 30, the Science and Research Committee will discuss antimicrobial resistance, review draft reports on related projects, and provide drafting instructions for reports on research funding and other topics.
• Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry Addresses Food Security Role: On April 30, the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee will continue its study on the agriculture and agri-food sector’s role in food security, hearing from academic and health witnesses.

Federal Government News

Canada and EU End Longstanding Flaxseed Sampling Protocol

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced that the Sampling and Testing Protocol for Canadian flaxseed exported to the European Union will be discontinued as of May 1, 2026. This protocol, in place since 2009 after trace amounts of unauthorized GMO flaxseed were found in a shipment, required enhanced testing and had imposed additional costs and administrative requirements on Canadian exporters. The formal request for revocation was submitted in 2024 and recently accepted by the EU. The change follows years of no CDC Triffid detections and collaboration between AAFC, the Canadian Grain Commission, industry, and the EU. Termination of the protocol is expected to remove a non-tariff barrier and may improve competitive positioning for Canadian exporters.

Sources: www.canada.ca

$1.2 Million Invested in Yukon Food System Projects

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is allocating up to $1,264,308 across five projects aimed at strengthening Yukon's food systems, as announced April 21 in Whitehorse. Projects include infrastructure renewal in Ross River, a cold/dry storage facility and food security plan in Old Crow for Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, mobile agricultural lab expansion by Replic8 Technologies Inc., new micro-abattoir construction for Tum Tum’s Black Gilt Meats, and a processing facility for Yukon Berry Farms. The measures target improved local production, storage, and processing capabilities, and support both Indigenous and small business participants.

Sources: www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca

Measures Announced to Lower Operating Costs for Food Sector

Prairies Economic Development Canada announced that the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel is suspended nationwide from April 20 through September 7, 2026, lowering pump prices by up to 10 cents per litre for gasoline and up to 4 cents per litre for diesel. The government states this is targeted at lowering pressure on day-to-day expenses for families and operating costs for transport, food, agriculture, housing, construction, and delivery businesses. A one-time top-up to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will be issued June 5, followed by enhanced ongoing payments for five years starting in July. The announcement links these measures to competitiveness, job protection, and support for Canadian goods movement.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Atlantic Food and Beverage Companies Join SIAL Canada Trade Mission

Eighteen Atlantic Canadian food and beverage companies, with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, are set to participate in SIAL Canada from April 29 to May 1 in Montreal under an initiative led by the Food and Beverage Atlantic Association. The federal contribution totals $383,836. Participants will engage with buyers and partners at the trade show, with objectives focused on export growth, supply chain strengthening, and new market insights. The event is positioned as a key venue for connecting local producers with broader domestic and global markets.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan: Greenhouse, Nursery, and Sod Sector Tops $6.5 Billion in 2025

Statistics Canada reports that in 2025, greenhouse, nursery, field-grown cut flower, and sod operations collectively recorded a 7.5% increase in sales, reaching $6.5 billion. This marks the fifth consecutive year of sales increases for these sectors.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan: Canadian Wool Prices Increase as Purchases Drop

Average prices paid to Canadian wool producers rose by 37.1% in 2024 to $0.48 per kilogram. However, the volume of raw wool purchased from producers fell 20.4% year-over-year to 555,900 kilograms, according to newly released data from Statistics Canada.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

StatsCan Releases Data on Environmental and Clean Tech R&D Expenditures

Statistics Canada has published new data sets on Canadian business research and development expenditures in environmental protection and clean technology products for 2022 and 2023. Detailed R&D expenditure data is now available for these sectors.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Provincial Government News

Ontario Tables Farmland Ownership and Agri-Food Sector Legislation

Ontario has introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026, proposing restrictions on foreign acquisition of provincial farmland, expanded production access in the Clay Belt, and regulatory modernization for the agri-food sector.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Ontario to Begin Consultations on Farmland Ownership Restrictions

Ontario will seek public input starting April 22 on proposed legislation restricting foreign acquisition of farmland and easing access to arable land in the Clay Belt region of northern Ontario.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia Government Welcomes Agropur Dairy Expansion

Agropur will expand its Bedford, Nova Scotia, facility to focus on production of protein-rich dairy ingredients and a new butter line, with support from the Province’s Capital Investment Tax Credit.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

British Columbia Commits to Organic Waste Infrastructure

B.C. is providing over $2 million in funding to four communities for organic waste processing and curbside collection infrastructure, aimed at diverting waste and reducing emissions.

Sources: news.gov.bc.ca

Alberta Proposes Further Red Tape Reductions Across Multiple Sectors

Alberta has tabled its 11th red tape reduction bill since 2019, including amendments affecting agricultural irrigation limits, provincial recycling, construction adjudication, and other areas.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Government Consultations

Consultation Open on AQUABAC II XT Biological Larvicide

Health Canada is seeking input until June 4 on the proposed registration of AQUABAC II XT, containing Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis strain BMP-144, for use on greenhouse ornamentals against fungus gnats.

Sources: www.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Agropur to invest nearly $1-billion to expand dairy operations in Quebec, Nova Scotia: The Canadian dairy cooperative announces a significant investment to expand its facilities and dairy processing capacity in two provinces.

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