Response to parliamentary committees
As described below, 3 reports requesting government responses from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, were tabled in Parliament during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
On June 19, 2024, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food presented its 20th report, Improving the Resilience of Canada's Horticultural Sector. The report was based on testimony from 29 witnesses, heard between February 15 and June 11, 2024. It examined key issues affecting the horticultural sector, insurance programs and federal assistance, particularly in the context of increasing climate-related risks. The report also explored potential solutions to enhance climate resilience, such as climate adaptation measures and targeted support programs to help the sector respond to climate change. The Committee requested a government response to the 13 recommendations included in the report. The Government Response to the Twentieth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food was presented to the House of Commons on October 10, 2024.
On May 23, 2024, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food presented its 18th report, A Call to Action: How Government and Industry Can Fight Back Against Food Price Volatility. The report was based on testimony from 27 witnesses, heard between December 4, 2023 and April 30, 2024. It examined the causes of rising food prices in Canada and the recommended actions that government and industry can take to stabilize prices and improve affordability for Canadians. The Committee requested a government response to the 10 recommendations included in the report. The Government Response to the Eighteenth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food was presented to the House of Commons on September 19, 2024.
The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
On June 6, 2024, the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry presented its 13th report, Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada's Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health. The report was based on testimony from 153 witnesses, heard between May 19, 2022, and May 23, 2024. It examined the status of soil health in Canada and identified ways to strengthen soil stewardship, support agricultural and forestry producers to become sustainability leaders, and enhance their economic prosperity. The Committee requested a government response to the 25 recommendations included in the report. The Government Response to the thirteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on agriculture and forestry (PDF) was presented to the Senate on November 5, 2024.
Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Report 5 – Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The agriculture sector accounts for about 10% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and has remained fairly stable in recent years. Although the sector is a source of emissions, agriculture can also be a sink for emissions by storing carbon and enhancing agricultural soil health through beneficial management practices such as cover cropping and nitrogen management. The federal government has taken significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector. In particular, since 2021, we have pledged over $1.5 billion to ensure a successful, sustainable agriculture and agri-food sector through federal programming and through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The full list of recommendations and responses are included in the CESD report. The audit resulted in 4 recommendations: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada should finalize a sustainable agriculture strategy to contribute to Canada's 2030 and 2050 climate change targets, implement improvements to program delivery and administration processes, finalize measurable program targets and report on expected results for greenhouse gas emission reductions, and implement a results monitoring framework to enable timely and transparent assessment of results.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) agreed with the audit recommendations and has made substantial progress in addressing the recommendations to enhance its climate change mitigation programs.
In 2024, AAFC concluded consultations with a multi-stakeholder advisory committee on the development of a potential strategy on sustainable agriculture and the feedback gathered through that process continues to inform policy directions within the department.
To reduce administrative delays and support program continuity, AAFC successfully communicated the expansion phase of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (ACS-OFCAF) (2025–2028) to recipients in early 2025, finalizing all contribution agreements ahead of the program's April start date. Improvements to the application and review processes for the Agricultural Clean Technology Program (Adoption stream) were completed during the program's second intake in 2023, enabling more timely approvals and the prioritization of adoption projects with higher greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Additionally, an assessment of the Living Labs program under the Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative is underway to evaluate existing projects and inform future program design.
To accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, AAFC introduced a merit-based approach to prioritize projects and beneficial management practices that demonstrate measurable environmental benefits within the OFCAF program. Program performance indicators and targets have been reviewed and updated to be measurable and time-bound, with remaining targets (ACS-OFCAF) expected to be finalized by fall 2025. Program results from these programs are published in AAFC's Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports and through the Natural Climate Solutions Fund horizontal initiative, led by Natural Resources Canada, to support federal reporting requirements.
To enable the accurate, timely, and transparent assessment of results and the ability to roll up greenhouse gas emission reduction data across its projects and programs, AAFC has strengthened its data quality and results monitoring by establishing clear guidelines and verification requirements for data submitted by recipients. The department continuously reviews assumptions regarding the permanence of emissions reductions and adapts its measurement methodologies as new scientific evidence emerges. The recent implementation of an enhanced Annual Performance Reporting template for ACS-OFCAF and ACS-Living Labs projects will further improve the collection, monitoring and reporting of program results.
Overall, AAFC remains committed to advancing its climate change mitigation efforts through ongoing program improvements, rigorous performance measurement, and coordinated reporting, supporting Canada's environmental objectives with accountability and transparency.
Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
There were no audits in 2024–25 requiring a response by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.