Saskatchewan’s provincial agriculture minister is criticizing his federal counterpart’s announcement of changes to the AgriStability business risk management program on the eve of the federal election campaign.
Daryl Harrison tells RealAgriculture the federal government made the announcement “despite knowing they cannot unilaterally implement these changes, and that no changes can be made until after the election.”
The measures proposed by new federal ag minister Kody Blois were announced as support to help farmers affected by new retaliatory tariffs from China on Canadian agricultural exports, including canola meal, canola oil, peas, and pork. The Chinese tariffs were imposed on March 20 in response to Canada’s duties on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.
While Blois announced an increase to the AgriStability compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and a doubling of the payment cap to $6 million for the 2025 program year, AgriStability is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments on a 60/40 cost-share basis.
Provinces cannot negotiate with the federal government until after the writ period, notes Harrison, in a March 26 email to RealAgriculture.
“The federal government did not consult with the Agriculture Minister, they did not provide program details, there was no funding made available, and there was no direction for officials to work on this program,” says Harrison.
“Even if these changes were made today, that support would not arrive until mid-2026 due to the nature of the AgriStability program. What would benefit producers is for the federal government to remove its tariff on Chinese EVs and engage with China to negotiate a solution quickly,” he continues.
“Once again, Western Canada is left with empty promises from a federal government who would rather support a nonexistent Canadian EV market in Eastern Canada than our producers,” says Harrison, to conclude the emailed statement.
He did not say whether the Saskatchewan government would agree to the AgriStability enhancements if the offer still stands from whichever party forms the federal government after the election.
On the other hand, Manitoba Ag Minister Ron Kostyshyn welcomed the announced changes to AgriStability and said the Manitoba government would be on board with the changes.
Other provinces’ ag ministers and ministries have yet to comment publicly on the proposed AgriStability changes, with some saying they did not receive enough information from the federal government prior to the writ period.
Related:
Ag Minister Blois proposes tariff support through changes to AgriStability
Manitoba backs proposal to boost AgriStability payouts in face of tariffs
China slaps steep tariffs on Canadian canola oil, meal, peas, pork, and seafood
