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: 2026-02-08 to 2026-02-14

📋 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

There are no scheduled committee meetings this week.

Federal Government News

Government of Canada unveils $75 million Market Diversification Program for agri-food sector

On February 10, 2026, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald announced the launch of two new AgriMarketing Program streams—Market Diversification for National Industry Associations and for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises—at Food and Beverage Canada's annual Policy Breakfast. The program allocates $75 million over five years (2026-31) to support the agri-food, fish, and seafood sectors in navigating global market uncertainty and trade barriers. Applications open February 13, 2026. The funding supports both exporters and industry organizations, with SMEs eligible for the first time in this stream. Guidelines and eligibility criteria are outlined on the program website. This funding is independent of the $129.97 million committed to the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The program targets all subsectors, with a focus on those affected by market disruptions and trade restrictions.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canada and Pakistan advance agricultural trade agreement

Hon. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, met with Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, on February 9, 2026. Minister Sidhu noted the first shipment of Canadian canola to Karachi Port on January 12, 2026, as an outcome of bilateral facilitation. The officials discussed further opportunities for Canadian exporters in agriculture, mining, and clean energy. Both countries articulated the importance of diversifying beyond traditional products and pursuing a broader trade agenda. Canada confirmed interest in progressing negotiations on a foreign investment protection agreement.

Sources: www.canada.ca

AgriRecovery initiative provides disaster relief to Newfoundland and Labrador producers affected by drought

On February 10, 2026, federal Minister Heath MacDonald and Newfoundland and Labrador Minister Pleaman Forsey announced the roll-out of AgriRecovery financial assistance for dairy, beef, sheep, and goat producers impacted by severe drought in 2025. The 2025-26 program supports cost-sharing for purchasing and transporting forage, with an application deadline of March 2, 2026. The disaster assistance operates alongside other Business Risk Management programs (AgriStability, AgriInsurance, AgriInvest), all of which have open and extended deadlines in 2026. The envelope aims to mitigate extraordinary losses tied to feed costs and production shortfalls.

Sources: www.canada.ca

StatsCan releases December 2025 farm product prices data

Statistics Canada published monthly provincial average prices received by farmers for grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, cattle, hogs, poultry, eggs, and dairy products for December 2025. The dataset enables tracking of month-to-month pricing trends and market conditions across the agri-food supply chain.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Chicken production increases for fifth consecutive year

Statistics Canada reported on February 10, 2026, that chicken production rose by 2.0% in 2025, reaching 1.4 million tonnes. This marks five successive years of annual output growth, reflecting developments in supply, demand, and market resilience within the poultry sector.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Detailed 2025 small area field crop data now available

Small area field crop statistics for 2025 are now released by Statistics Canada. The data include regional information for all major field crops and facilitate localized analysis of agricultural output, resource allocation, and production trends.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

January 2026 rural employment by industry dashboard live

A new interactive dashboard from Statistics Canada presents rural employment metrics by industry as of January 2026. The resource provides sector-specific workforce data for rural Canada, relevant to agri-food stakeholders tracking employment shifts.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Private non-profit R&D expenditures published for 2024-2026

Actual 2024, preliminary 2025, and intended 2026 research and development expenditures by Canadian private non-profit organizations are available from Statistics Canada. These data cover R&D personnel and technology transactions, with implications for agri-food innovation.

Sources: www.statcan.gc.ca

Minister MacDonald delivers statement on Canada’s Agriculture Day

On February 10, 2026, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald issued a statement recognizing Canada’s Agriculture Day and marking the sector’s decade-long commemoration. The statement referenced 2025 sector output—$150 billion in GDP, over $100 billion in exports, and supporting one in nine Canadian jobs. The minister commended the contributions of farmers, producers, and processors.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

Manitoba pilots satellite-based forage insurance for 2026 crop year

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation will pilot a satellite-based forage insurance project in 2026, aiming to reduce reporting requirements and improve production estimates for about 50 selected participants, using technology to estimate soil moisture and yield.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Manitoba establishes agri-food trade partnership with Hong Kong

The Manitoba government exchanged co-operation letters with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association and Hong Kong Trade Development Council to enhance agri-food market access in Asia-Pacific, facilitating business-to-business connections for Manitoba exporters.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Ontario secures agreement with Diageo to solidify agri-food investments

Ontario and Diageo reached a deal guaranteeing nearly $23 million in new investments, supporting local grain purchases, agri-food manufacturing, and supply chain strengthening, amid prior closure threats at the Amherstburg facility.

Sources: news.ontario.ca

Manitoba launches province-wide grocery pricing study

The Manitoba government initiated a study targeting grocery affordability and pricing fairness, including an examination of predatory pricing practices and their effect on consumers, building on recent cost-control measures.

Sources: news.gov.mb.ca

Alberta invests in ag-tech emissions reduction projects

Alberta’s government committed $28 million to six technology projects, including farm waste-to-energy conversion in Coaldale and methane reduction in cattle production, as part of an emissions and resource recovery initiative.

Sources: www.alberta.ca

Government Consultations

Consultation: Proposed registration of acynonapyr for pome fruits

Health Canada opened a consultation on February 10, 2026, regarding the proposed registration of Acynonapyr Technical and Kodama Miticide for use on pome fruits to control Tetranychid mites; public input is open until March 12, 2026.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Consultation: Amended livestock feed ingredient—Vitamin E acetate

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is consulting until March 9, 2026, on amendments to the feed ingredient description for vitamin E acetate to allow standardized carrier additions for livestock feed.

Sources: inspection.canada.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• Ottawa earmarks $75-million to help agriculture and food manufacturing diversify trade: Ottawa announces new federal funding initiative for trade diversification.
• Maritime farmers raise concerns over closure of Nova Scotia agriculture research facility: Nova Scotia producers address impact of local research facility closure.
• How pivoting from tobacco to popcorn saved this four-generation family farm: Case study of a multi-generational farm's transition strategy.
• N.S. entrepreneur developing mushroom roots as sustainable, high-protein food product: Nova Scotia startup explores mushroom root as alternative protein.
• UN report aims to map out ways to make business and biodiversity both sustainable: UN panel examines business practices affecting biodiversity.

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