Policy Areas

A vibrant small-scale meat industry for British Columbians

NFU recommendations to BC Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture has recently released an Intentions Paper on “Rural Slaughter Modernization.” We are very excited to see the MoA tackling the complex issues facing the meat processing sector in BC and welcome the opportunity to influence the thinking of the MoA as they work to address the critical policies, regulations, and financial Read more

PEI’s Land and Water Need Protection, says NFU

The concerns surrounding our land can’t be separated from the usage of water. If exploitation of the land is allowed to continue, then exploitation of water will increase. The NFU takes the position that if the role of water is to be extended in agriculture production, then its usage must be a regulated part of a far broader strategy that addresses stewardship of the land and the greater good of farmers, the environment, and rural communities. Read more

NFU Letter to CITT re Injury to Canadian Soybean Producers

Trade data suggests that the US MFP program allowed traders to purchase imported subsidized US soy at lower prices, causing prices to Canadian producers to go down and denying our farmers the opportunity to benefit from high Chinese demand. We believe the injury to Canadian farmers is clear, and that a proper investigation into the extent of harm is needed. Read more

National Farmers Union Stands in Solidarity with Mi’kmaw Struggle for Treaty Right to Fish

The National Farmers Union (NFU) stands in solidarity with Mi’kmaq fishers as they lawfully assert their treaty rights to a moderate livelihood fishery, and strongly condemns the ongoing racist, reprehensible acts of violence and hostility being perpetrated against them. It is within the inherent and constitutionally affirmed treaty rights of the Mi’kmaq people to hunt, Read more

Union Farmer Newsletter: October 2020

Articles in this issue: Seed Canada vote signals farmers can’t be taken for granted; Hairy canola— a big deal!; Solving climate crisis key to saving family farms: NFU has lead role in both struggles; More local, regional abattoir capacity needed; Alberta changes legislation to allow more on-farm slaughtering Read more

Need for universal childcare subsidies and a national pharmacare program

Rural women are experiencing disproportionate pandemic-related economic disadvantages due to more precarious employment in jobs with no health benefits. A Universal Pharmacare program and a Universal Childcare Subsidy will have an enormous positive impact, particularly among women, who have been the most hard-hit. Read more

Throne speech should support farmers and ranchers to reduce GHGs

Prime Minister, as you set a new agenda for Canada, we expect that in your Speech from the Throne you will prioritize food and farming and include “Supporting farmers to reduce emissions and build resilience.” Along with helping farm businesses recover from the pandemic, an investment in farmers will help to revitalize rural communities and help them prepare for the clean economy of the 21st century, while also protecting or enhancing biodiversity, water quality, and air quality. Read more

Urgent need for support to increase local and regional abattoir capacity

The increase in demand for locally produced food, particularly meat, in response to COVID has been widely reported all across Canada. This has the makings of an economic success story – a silver lining in the pandemic’s very dark cloud – but serious, targeted investment in to create and expand its infrastructure is needed to allow this emerging source of local prosperity to become well established. Read more

 2020 hindsight: Ending the Canadian Wheat Board was an economic tragedy

August 1st 2020 marks the 8th anniversary of one of the great economic tragedies in Canadian history. This was the day the wrecking ball swung by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz finally destroyed one of the most important institutions working for economic justice for farmers - the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). In a malicious act driven by wrong-headed doctrine, they chose to eliminate the CWB through the Orwellian-titled Marketing Freedom for Farmers Act. Read more

Is a $4 Billion Irrigation Expansion a Good Investment for Saskatchewan Farms?

The greatest threat to Saskatchewan farms is climate change. Thus, we should ask: should the Saskatchewan and federal governments spend $4 billion on irrigation infrastructure? Can this investment really protect a significant number of farms or acres from climate change? Or could the money be better spent on other projects or in other ways? How should we spend taxpayers’ limited dollars? Read more