Policy Areas

National Farmers Union and Union Paysanne stand in solidarity with Unist’ot’en

Saskatoon, SK — The National Farmers Union (NFU) and Union Paysanne (UP) stand in solidarity with the Unist’ot’en camp against recent actions by Coastal GasLink Pipeline company that threatens Indigenous rights and sovereignty. The Unist’ot’en camp is a permanent, non-violent Indigenous re-occupation of Wet’suwet’en land which has been a means for members of the Wet’suwet’en Read more

NFU applies for Intervenor Status in Climate Change Constitutional Case

In April 2018 the government of Saskatchewan decided to challenge the federal government’s jurisdiction in regard to climate action measures, arguing its Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act reaches beyond federal powers. To date, the governments of Ontario and New Brunswick are intervening in support of Saskatchewan while the government of BC is supporting the federal Read more

Letter to Prime Minister urging Canada not to sign new NAFTA agreement in its present form

November 29, 2018 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister, Re: NFU urges Canada to not sign new NAFTA agreement on November 30, 2018 The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges Canada not to sign the new NAFTA agreement in Buenos Aires Read more

NFU urges Canada not to sign new NAFTA in its present form

(Saskatoon) – Today the National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland urging them not to sign the new NAFTA agreement in its present form. “It has recently come to light that the published text – which is available only on the US Trade Representatives website and Read more

UN Adopts Declaration on the Rights of Peasants

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly approved the Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas this afternoon, expressing the widespread support for the promotion and protection of human rights for an often neglected population. It was approved by a recorded vote of 119 in favour to 7 against, with 49 abstentions. Read more

Special Reviews of Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam Risk to Aquatic Invertebrates

NFU submission to the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to provide comments on the Proposed Special Review Decisions PSRD2018-01 and PSRD2018-02 regarding Risk to Aquatic Invertebrates from Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam respectively. Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam are neonicotinoid insecticides currently approved for use as seed treatment and/or foliar spray on many agricultural crops in Canada. The proposed Special Review Read more

NFU urges Canada to support Declaration for the Rights of Peasants at United Nations

The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges Canada to vote in favour of the United Nations (UN) Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas when it goes before the 3rd Committee session of the General Assembly. Read more

USMCA goes against Canada’s grain

The USMCA grain section requires Canada to give imported US wheat the same grade as our own, and would prevent Canada from identifying country of origin for US wheat on our grade certificates. To implement these measures, we would have to amend the Canada Grain Act, but The Canada Grain Act requirements are the foundation of Canada’s reputation for quality assured grain. Read more

Over 200 Global Food Movement Leaders and Organizations Reject “Gene Drives”

Global food movement leaders and organizations representing hundreds of millions of farmers and food workers today set out their clear opposition to “gene drives” – a controversial new genetic forcing technology. A new report, Forcing the Farm, lifts the lid on how gene drives may harm food and farming systems. Read more

World Bank–IMF Guilty of Promoting Land Grabs, Increasing Inequality, says LVC

At a meeting of La Via Campesina facilitated by Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI) in Bali, peasant organisations from Asia, Africa, Americas and Europe have unanimously held World Bank and IMF responsible for facilitating large scale land grab, deforestation and ocean grabbing around the world, which has led to inequality, poverty and global hunger. Read more