Opinion
By Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI)
Canada’s new Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald arrives at a time when farmers and processors are facing more uncertainty—and more opportunity—than at any point in a generation.
Prime Minister Carney has said his new cabinet reflects Canada’s “hinge moment.” Agriculture may not be the department that the Prime Minister has in mind when he thinks of that moment, but the sector needs generational change. It can be a leading example of the government’s new mandate in action.
My previous column highlighted “how” the new Minister should act to have an impact. Here are five things that are the “what” the Minister should do that can have an impact in the very short term:
1) Make trade a priority
It often appeared that trade was an afterthought for agriculture ministers over the last decade, but it now must be at the centre of Minister MacDonald’s mandate. Expectations are high in the sector. With canola, pea, pork and seafood tariffs still biting and global competition rising, farm incomes depend on restoring stable trade relationships. Ongoing Chinese tariffs, the threat of additional tariffs on canola, uncertainty with the U.S., the need to defend sensitive sectors in renegotiations, and the need to diversify exports are all critical priorities.
However, those expectations will also need to be managed. These issues cannot be fixed overnight. Two early steps the Minister can take are to convene an agricultural trade advisory committee and re-engage with the Chinese government to initiate the process of removing tariffs.
A focus on trade has broader political benefits for Minister MacDonald. The fishermen on PEI, whose exports of lobster and seafood have also been hit by Chinese tariffs, will also benefit from his intervention on this critical issue.
Minister MacDonald’s early comments demonstrate that he is making trade a priority, now he needs to follow his comments up with action.
2) Get out of Ottawa
The Minister should set an objective to meet each of his provincial counterparts in person in their provinces before they all gather in Winnipeg this July. Getting out of Ottawa provides the Minister with an opportunity to build personal relationships with his counterparts in ways that a phone call cannot.
Travelling also gives the Minister the chance to meet farmers and food processors, gaining a better understanding of the regional differences and national similarities in Canadian agriculture and food. Meeting farmers in-person is more than symbolism — it’s how he can build trust and ground policy in on-the-farm realities.
By meeting his counterparts, farmers, and food processors where they are, Minister MacDonald can also play a meaningful role in bridging divides, helping to unite the country in this hinge moment.
3) Follow through on regulatory reform
In his short time in the portfolio, former Minister Kody Blois seemingly made more progress on regulatory reform than had been made in the decade before he arrived. While Blois did not have time to get the job done, Minister MacDonald can push these changes over the finish line.
I expect officials will have a long list of reasons why they cannot implement these changes quickly, but Minister MacDonald needs the focus and ambition to push hard so that the proposed changes become a reality. Streamlining outdated rules could cut costs, speed up approvals, and make it easier to bring new tools to market.
This should be just the start of a focus on reform. Minister MacDonald should make his predecessor the lead on regulatory reform, signalling their commitment to making it easier to invest, innovate and grow in Canada.
4) Invest in food processors
The Liberal party platform committed $200 million for a domestic food processing fund. While that may seem like a substantial amount of money, some food processors in Canada spend more than that on maintenance and repairs annually.
To maximize the impact of the investment, the Minister should provide the $200 million to FCC Capital, where it can be leveraged with other private sector investments. This will also enable the funds to reach food processors more quickly and catalyze greater investment and innovation in the sector.
A stronger food processing sector means increased domestic demand for Canadian farm products — and greater resilience in challenging markets.
5) Commit to ag innovation reform
Canadian agriculture and food’s R&D and innovation system is facing significant challenges and is arguably in a crisis. The Minister cannot fix this early in his mandate, but he can acknowledge the problem and start the process of fixing it.
Without bold reform, Canadian producers risk falling behind in a global race for profitability, productivity, and sustainability. The Minister should launch an expert panel that will provide actionable recommendations by the end of 2025. Its mandate should focus on the changes needed to build a world-leading 21st-century R&D and innovation system in Canada.
Minister MacDonald doesn’t need to solve everything at once — but he can set a new tone, show early wins, and prove this government is serious about agriculture. Farmers and ag leaders will be watching — and ready to work with him if he’s ready to lead.
Related: So you want to be an effective ag minister? Here’s the top 5 things to do
