Alternative formatMore Canada on your plate (PDF, 2.1 MB)The National Food Security Strategy is about giving Canadians more choice, more control, and more affordable locally-produced food on the shelf.On this pageCanadians are paying more for food while relying heavily on importsThe plan: a made-in-Canada strategyStrategy pillarsWhat we have already doneWhat does this mean for CanadiansCanadians are paying more for food while relying heavily on importsMany Canadians struggle to access fresh, Canadian-grown fruit and vegetables at an affordable priceFive large retailers dominate 75% of Canada’s grocery market, along with much of the system for distributing foodIndependent grocers can’t compete because they often depend on competitors for supply. They may also face restrictions on where they can operateFarmers and Canadians are missing out on jobs, growth, and greater self-sufficiency because we don’t process enough of what we growCanadian farmers lack timely access to key products, making them less competitive with farmers in other countries and leading to higher pricesCanada depends on imports for fresh fruit and vegetablesCanada imports:88% of our fresh fruits and nuts72% of our vegetablesWhile Canada grows a lot of food, much of it is processed elsewhere, making us dependent on others and what we put in our grocery baskets. So, every global shock — a war, a drought on another continent, a new tariff — eventually shows up at our checkouts.The plan: a made-in-Canada strategyMore Choice. More Control. More Canada.$3.2 billion over 10 yearsA Made-in-Canada approach is about finding solutions at home that will improve access and affordability. It’s about a country that grows so much food and is doing more to feed itself.Getting there means addressing the underlying challenges of food affordability. The way food is currently bought, sold, transported, and distributed is not set up in a way that supports farmers, consumers, or small independent players.We grow things here, sell them to other countries who process them, then buy them back as final products. This means higher prices for Canadians while creating jobs elsewhere.A more Canadian food system means one that is more reliable, with local food, lower costs, and stronger communities.Strategy pillars1. More grocery store competition, more choice, lower pricesA $1 billion investment in food infrastructure — including food terminals and hubs — will help independent grocers to compete by making it easier to buy from farmers and food processors. Food terminals enable wholesalers to buy and sell food at competitive prices, while new and expanded food hubs will connect multiple farmers and processors to independent retailers, schools and hospitals. They will also sell direct to consumers, giving more Canadians access to fresh, high-quality Canadian-grown produce.The Competition Bureau and Competition Tribunal will have new funding to investigate, litigate, and adjudicate anti-competitive behaviour. The Bureau will undertake a new study on competition through the food supply chain. It will also continue to respond to practices that may limit competition, like algorithmic collusion.A more competitive marketplace helps keep prices lower for Canadians.For you: A fairer shake for the independent grocer down the street, more competitive pricing, and fresher local options.2. Process more food closer to where it’s grownExpanded, targeted initiatives to help small and medium-sized processors modernize and increase productivity, enabling them to compete in the global marketplace while attracting new investment from major manufacturers. Canada will be able to process more of what our farmers grow, create new jobs, economic opportunity and more food self-sufficiency.This will be complemented by a new initiative by Farm Credit Canada to establish a $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance Fund that backs the kind of food and farming projects that can transform the industry — ones that take real money to build and promise real returns. It comes on top of the $2 billion that FCC is investing in Canadian food and agriculture innovation, with another $5 billion committed by a coalition of private sector partners.For you: More good jobs in the communities that grow our food, and food systems less likely to break when something goes wrong overseas.3. Grow fruits and vegetables year-roundThe government will invest $750 million in controlled environment agriculture to dramatically expand year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables. This includes food production in rural and northern communities.For you: More fresh, reliable, Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables throughout the year and less dependence on imports.What is controlled environment agriculture?A way of growing food indoors — in greenhouses, vertical farms, and other enclosed spaces — where light, temperature, and water are carefully managed.4. Lowering prices by cutting red tapeRemoving unnecessary delays by accepting product approvals already done by countries with strong food safety records instead of repeating the same regulatory review here.Provincially-licensed food businesses including processors will get the help they need to meet federal requirements so that a Canadian product made in one province can more easily reach a shelf in another.For you: Farmers get better access to critical inputs that put more Canadian food on more shelves, wherever you live in Canada.What we have already done$1,890 — Canada Groceries and Essentials BenefitUp to $1,890 for families with two children, up to $950 for individuals — reaching more than 12 million Canadians$800/year per family — National School Food Program now permanentFeeds 400,000 more kids each year and saves participating families about $800 annually per family$20 million — Local Food Infrastructure FundGoing to food banks and community food organizations across the country through the Community Support Stream10¢/L — Federal fuel excise tax temporarily suspended10 cents off every litre of gasoline and 4 cents off every litre of diesel at the pumpGreenhouse expansionsNew or expanded greenhouses: Immediate expensing for new or expanded greenhouse construction to reduce upfront costs and boost domestic supply of fresh fruits and vegetablesProductivity deductionProductivity super-deduction: Targeted tax measures such as the Productivity Super-Deduction – a set of specific tax incentives covering all new capital investments to allow businesses to write off a larger part of the cost of investments right away. This gives some relief to the high cost of investing in machinery, equipment, and technologyWhat does this mean for CanadiansCanadian familiesAisha’s neighbourhood grocery store offers more Canadian products year-round, like fresh fruits and vegetables from nearby farms. There are more options for better value, and she clearly sees what produce is truly Canadian. Many items are more affordable because there are fewer steps between the farm and the shelf. When she shops at larger retailers, she also notices that more of the packaged foods she buys are made entirely in Canada.FarmersFor years, Paul’s family farm sold its produce to a large retailer with little control over pricing or where their food ended up. Now, their products can be sold at a Food Terminal or through a Food Hub, opening up new markets closer to home and giving them more flexibility and stability.Like many Canadian farmers, Paul watched competitors in other countries gain access to new farm tools and supplies sooner, helping them lower costs and increase productivity while Canadian farmers faced delays and higher expenses. Now, faster approval processes in Canada have helped level the playing field and given Canadian farmers like Paul earlier access to the tools they need to stay competitive.Independent grocers and other vendorsElaine runs an independent grocery store. She used to have no option for sourcing food other than to rely on wholesalers run by her larger competitors, making it harder to meaningfully compete against them. Now, food terminals and hubs have given her more wholesale and distribution options that lower her costs. This allows her to provide more fresh local food at better prices to her customers.Small Canadian food processor scaling upJanice owns a small food processing business in Saskatchewan, turning locally grown chickpeas into packaged snacks for her local food markets. Demand for her products has been growing, but scaling up had been a challenge — new equipment, product development, and entering new markets all required capital she didn’t have. With stronger access to programs and financing that support innovation and growth, Janice can now invest in modern equipment, expand production, and develop new products that meet changing consumer preferences. That support will help her reach more stores, create local jobs, and build a more resilient business, all while bringing more Canadian-made food to shelves at competitive prices.Northern communities seeking fresh produceDavid lives in a northern community where fresh produce is often scarce and expensive. He helps run a small, climate-controlled greenhouse that is adding to the choice of fresh food that’s available in his community. For years, most produce had to be flown in, arriving with high costs and past their peak freshness. With controlled environment agriculture, David is now growing leafy greens year-round. With increased support to expand these systems, David and his community are able to develop and implement solutions they can control to respond to their challenges and priorities.More choice.More control.More Canada.
