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Keeping Canada’s grain industry on track

Dear Editor, Canada’s world-class grain industry spurs economic growth, job creation and prosperity across the country.

Dear Editor,

Canada’s world-class grain industry spurs economic growth, job creation and prosperity across the country.

Our government under Prime Minister Trudeau identified agriculture as one of the top sectors for growth and job-creation in Canada – we have set the objective of increasing our agri-food exports to $75 billion by 2025. Grain farmers will play a big part in meeting this ambitious goal, and we’re making sure they are well positioned to do so.

We know our farmers need access to hungry markets across the world. By signing CETA and the CPTPP, we have opened significant new markets for our top-quality grain. Industry estimates that CETA will result in $100 million in new sales of grain, while the CPTPP will result in $780 million in new sales for canola alone.

Thanks to an agreement reached by Prime Minister Trudeau with China, our canola trade worth $2 billion a year is secure, and our government continues to ensure that lucrative market stays open for our canola farmers. This May, I visited China for the fourth time since becoming Minister, and continue to promote Canadian-grown products to Chinese buyers.

Over the past year, we have reduced, or in some case eliminated, the Canadian Grain Commission’s user fees, which will save grain farmers over $15 million every year.

On May 23, our Government’s historic Bill C-49 received Royal Assent, giving our grain farmers a strong, reliable and efficient transportation system. It will deliver new tools to help the industry keep grain moving, such as reciprocal penalties and a better definition of “adequate and suitable” service. It also expands the powers of the Canadian Transportation Agency, adds soybeans as an eligible crop to the Maximum Revenue Entitlement, and improves access to Long-Haul Interswitching.

On top of all this, we are making numerous investments in science, innovation and export market development that will help drive the sector forward – including the Canadian Agricultural Partnership¸ which will invest a further $3 billion to help farmers grow, innovate and prosper.

Furthermore, we are investing $950 million into Innovation Superclusters, including the Protein Industries Supercluster, a collaboration of over 120 businesses, universities and other groups in the Prairies, which together will add value to our grain sector through more advanced plant science, processing technology and digital infrastructure. The Protein Industries Supercluster could help create more than 4,500 new jobs, and add more than $4.5 billion to the Canadian economy over 10 years.
To the grain farmers of the West, I want to sincerely thank you for the hard work you bring to your job every day and recognize the communities you are helping to support. Having been a farmer before entering politics, I am truly honoured to serve as your Minister. I am fully confident that working together, we can ensure a bright future for generations to come.

Lawrence MacAulay
Federal Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food