AIC’s Parliamentary Updates brings you weekly summaries and analysis of what’s happening on Parliament Hill that is relevant to the agriculture and agricultural research community.
Thursday, 2 October 2025
Government Announcements
September 26 – Minister MacDonald meets with industry to discuss AgriMarketing funding increase and expansion into new markets. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food met with members of the Prince Edward Island agriculture and aquaculture industries, to discuss the new measures to protect, build and transform Canadian industries. The Government of Canada is investing an additional $75 million in the AgriMarketing Program over 5 years, starting in 2026-27. Under the enhanced program, national industry associations in the agriculture, fish and seafood sectors, seeking to build on Canada’s existing strategy to increase and diversify markets, will be eligible for funding. For more information, click here.
September 29 – smartEarth: Using satellite data to preserve Canada’s natural heritage. Satellite Earth observation generates critical data that enables sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and natural resource management to operate more efficiently, plan ahead, and reduce costs – delivering significant economic benefits. The President of the Canadian Space Agency, announced a $5 million investment in innovative solutions using satellite data to tackle biodiversity challenges. Twenty Canadian companies, eight of which collaborate with Indigenous organizations, will develop projects to address issues such as declining species populations, habitat degradation, deteriorating water quality and forest disturbance. By applying artificial intelligence to satellite data, some of the funded projects will detect invasive plants, assess forest and agricultural landscapes, and monitor migratory birds which, in turn, will provide actionable information to safeguard biodiversity. For more information, click here.
October 1 – Update on Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s ongoing custody of ostriches at Edgewood, British Columbia. As ordered by the Supreme Court of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continues to have custody of the birds at the British Columbia ostrich farm. There is ongoing veterinary oversight. To read the full update, click here.
House of Commons and Senate Proceedings
Scott Anderson (Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, CPC) discusses the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s order to slaughter a herd of ostriches. Mel Arnold (Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, CPC) also comments.
Last Week’s Top Stories
Government Announcements
September 25 – Minister MacDonald to highlight federal support to expand trade into high-growth regions across Canada and the world. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will host a roundtable with members of the Prince Edward Island agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture industries to discuss recently announced investments that will fund activities to reduce trade barriers and seize new opportunities domestically and abroad. For more information, click here.
House of Commons and Senate Proceedings
Mel Arnold (Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, CPC) discusses the plan to cull 400 ostriches in B.C. because of an outbreak of avian flu.
Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, CPC) discusses the importance of the canola sector in Canada.
Marianne Dandurand (Compton—Stanstead, Lib.) highlights the fundamental role of women in agriculture.
Jeremy Patzer (Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, CPC) highlights the effects of tariffs on producers in Saskatchewan.
Stéphane Lauzon (Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, Lib.) asks for an update on the assistance available to Canadian farmers facing these Chinese tariffs.