Canadian Agricultural Partnership — updates

July 28, 2017

Last week was a busy one for Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture as they met in St. John’s, Newfoundland for their annual meeting. Ministers reached an agreement on the key elements of a new federal, provincial, territorial (FPT) agricultural policy framework, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Beginning on April 1, 2018, this five-year, $3 billion investment will strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity. Producers will also continue to have access to a comprehensive suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will focus on six priority areas: Science, Research, and Innovation; Markets and Trade; Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; Value-added Agriculture and Agri-food Processing; Public Trust; and Risk Management.

Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, BRM programs will continue to help producers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage. Governments responded to industry concerns regarding eligible coverage under AgriStability, ensuring a more equitable level of support for all producers. Governments further committed to engaging in a review that explores options to improve BRM programming. Highlights of upcoming BRM changes are available at: Canadian Agricultural Partnership - Business Risk Management Programs.

Extensive consultations with industry and Canadians informed the development of the new agreement. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership builds on the success of previous FPT agricultural frameworks, ensuring a balance between existing and emerging priorities to meet the dynamic, changing needs of the sector.

The agreement sets the stage for FPT governments to conclude bilateral agreements by April 1, 2018, when the current framework expires. Governments will continue to work closely with the sector as Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs are developed and implemented.

The next annual FPT Ministers' meeting will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in July 2018.