As Canadian agriculture grapples with complex challenges, John Barlow, the Conservative Party of Canada’s Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, is calling on the Liberal government to conduct an audit of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's programs and operations to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are being spent wisely.
“There’s a lack of focus within the department, and I’d like to see that change,” he says, adding that clearer metrics and reporting would help hold the department accountable for its performance. In this interview with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, Barlow says the department must decide what it wants to be and what it wants to accomplish.
He says there's a need for clear goals across research, grants, and partnerships — especially in how dollars are spent and leveraged. "Ag Canada needs to pick a lane," he says.
Barlow adds there are broader concerns within the sector, from high production costs and regulatory red tape to strained relationships with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). While acknowledging the new agriculture minister Heath MacDonald's openness, Barlow stresses that real influence at the cabinet table is needed to secure progress.
“There’s unfinished business, for sure,” he says. “We need to see if the new minister will be that influential voice for Canadian agriculture.”
Trade is another key area of concern for Barlow. He says he hopes the government’s renewed focus on economic growth and trade will translate into more robust support for Canadian agricultural exports, particularly amid challenges with China and the United States.
