Federal Election 2021: Ag Platforms of the Major Parties
The following is an overview of party platforms pertaining to agriculture, as of August 31, 2021, for the four largest national parties (in alphabetical order). Conservative Party The Conservatives have Read more
Response to PMRA Potential Environmental Risk to Squash Bee
Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) Health Canada 2720 Riverside Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 By e-mail: hc.pmra.publications-arla.sc@canada.ca August 13, 2021 Re: Proposed Special Review Decision Read more
Submission to Health Canada on proposed new guidance for Novel Food Regulations
All gene-edited products should be regulated as novel and therefore subject to government safety assessment and pre-market notification. This would ensure Health Canada maintains its ability to regulate foods derived from gene-edited plants in the public interest. It would ensure farmers have access to the information they need to make informed choices about the seed they purchase and crops they grow. Read more
Action: Health Canada Public Consultation on Gene-edited Plants
Demand mandatory disclosure and safety assessments for all gene-edited plants! Take action by sending an email to Health Canada. Read more
NFU comments on Draft Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations
Submission to the Public Comment Period for the Federal Government’s Draft Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations This brief technical submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) should be Read more
Rural Women Welcome Announcement of Childcare Funding in Federal Budget
 The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to see action being taken toward meaningful implementation of a universal child care program with the significance of $30 Billion allocated to the Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care program marking a good first step. Read more
NFU Submission to Canada Grain Act Review
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to provide input to the federal government’s review of the Canada Grain Act and the Canadian Grain Commission. The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), the Canada Grain Act (CGA) and its regulations are foundational to Canada’s agricultural economy. The value that the CGC brings to the Canadians in general and to farmers in particular cannot be overstated. The CGC was established in 1912 to bring fairness, transparency, confidence, and order to Canada’s grain sector. The mandate of the CGC is “the Commission shall, in the interests of the grain producers, establish and maintain standards of quality for Canadian grain and regulate grain handling in Canada, to ensure a dependable commodity for domestic and export markets.” The CGC’s effective use of its regulatory authority and mandate is the solid foundation upon which the Canadian grain sector’s enviable reputation and excellent trade position has been built. The CGC’s mandate must not be altered. Canada’s many individual farmers share common interests and they must deal with grain buyers who are fewer, wealthier and much more powerful. The CGC mandate recognizes that the interests of farmers and grain companies are generally in opposition, and that is necessary to balance the lopsided power relationship with effective regulatory authority that safeguards the interests of grain producers. By growing crops, farmers provide the wealth that supports the whole grain trade and its tens of billions of dollars’ worth of annual spin-off multiplier effects in the Canadian economy. The CGC’s proper role is to ensure that farmers are treated fairly, not only when they make individual transactions with grain companies, but also by preventing corruption of the grain system as a whole. The CGC’s authority to establish and maintain quality ensures that the grain which farmers produce has high value, and retains its integrity and thus its value, through to its purchase by an end user. Read more
Supreme Court Decision on Carbon Pricing Important Step Forward
Le français suit NEWS RELEASE     MARCH 25, 2021 The National Farmers Union (NFU) applauds today’s decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to declare the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Read more
Open letter: Canada must support global access to COVID-19 vaccines at the WTO
This letter was sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 10, 2021.  Dear Prime Minister, Since the beginning of the pandemic, world leaders have repeatedly spoken of the need Read more
Action Alert: Your CFIA survey response is critical for seed quality and access to seed!
The federal government is doing a major review of the Seeds Act Regulations. The push for this review comes from multinational seed corporations that want the rules radically changed to serve their own interests. The first opportunity for farmers to provide input to let the government know what we need and want is a CFIA stakeholder survey to get input on potential changes to how seed is regulated in Canada. Please fill it in after reading the background information below. The deadline is Monday March 15. There is a link to the survey at the bottom of this message. Read more