Staring down a $40M tariff bill, this American importer is suing Trump to end some tariffs on Canada

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Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-30 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Agriculture, Industry]

The U.S. food distributor Gellert Global Group is suing the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade to overturn a 50 per cent tariff bill estimated at $40 million US on Canadian dairy and food imports. Filed by the Liberty Justice Center, the lawsuit challenges the administration's reliance on Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act (Smoot-Hawley Act), arguing the executive branch lacks the statutory authority to impose sweeping punitive tariffs under the guise of foreign trade discrimination. The disputed trade actions affect approximately $80 million US in annual Canadian cheese imports, including products from Mariposa Dairy in Lindsay, Ontario, while domestic dairy processors face supply shortages and potential permanent loss of commercial shelf space.

Innovation Saskatchewan Launches ACRE Program to Accelerate Agtech Commercialization

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-29 21:30:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Economy, Technology, Agriculture, Industry]

Innovation Saskatchewan has launched the Agtech Commercialization Readiness (ACRE) program, providing up to $30,000 in funding for on-farm pilot projects that connect local agtech companies with agricultural producers and industry partners. Administered by Innovation Saskatchewan and supported by organizations such as the Saskatchewan Cattle Association, the program builds on the previous Made In Saskatchewan Technology (MIST) model to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of emerging agricultural technologies.

S-230 (45-1) - National Strategy for Soil Health Act

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-29 17:14:02.0
Tags: [National, Agriculture, Environment, Governance]

Bill S-230, the National Strategy for Soil Health Act sponsored by Senator Robert Black, has progressed to debate at second reading in the House of Commons during the 45th Parliament, 1st session. The Senate Public Bill proposes the development of a comprehensive national strategy focused on soil health protection, conservation, and enhancement. Following its introduction and first reading in June 2025, the bill passed through the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry with amendments before receiving third reading in the Senate in March 2026. The legislation was subsequently introduced and read a first time in the House of Commons in April 2026, with ongoing second reading debate taking place in October 2026.

Amendment to Lands Protection Act could reduce land holding limits for non-profits

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-28 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Agriculture, Governance, Environment]

The Prince Edward Island government has introduced a proposed amendment to the Lands Protection Act that would reduce the maximum land holding limit for non-profit corporations from 3,000 acres down to 400 acres. The amendment targets organizations pursuing patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional, or sporting objectives, requiring groups exceeding the new limit to divest excess land. Specifically, inter-related Buddhist groups such as the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute and the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society, which hold upward of 3,200 acres collectively, and religious organizations like the Catholic Church, which owns more than 1,700 acres, would be directly impacted. The provincial government opened a public feedback window for the proposed amendment running until November 10.

A New Approach to Leasing Agricultural Crown Land

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-28 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Agriculture, Economy, Governance]

The Government of Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is transitioning to a new ongoing allocation model for agricultural Crown land leases, replacing the previous single annual offering system. Starting November 9, 2026, eligible agricultural Crown land leases, including expired leases, will be offered on an ongoing basis online through McDougall Auctioneers Ltd. as they become available. The policy aims to create a more responsive, transparent, and accessible lease allocation process that aligns with producer needs while maintaining public transparency and equal treatment for agricultural producers. Interested bidders must meet specific eligibility requirements published on saskatchewan.ca, with lease opportunities posted online at saskatchewan.ca/crownlands and mcdougallauction.com.

Changes to temporary foreign worker rules leave some P.E.I. farms short-staffed this harvest

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-27 09:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Labour, Agriculture, Immigration]

Changes to federal temporary foreign worker requirements enacted at the end of 2025 removed agricultural exemptions for local job advertising, resulting in severe processing delays and staff shortages for P.E.I. farms during the harvest season. Agricultural operations such as Bunny Burrow Vegetable Co. faced delayed arrivals—with seasonal workers arriving in July instead of April—after multiple LMIA application rejections and multi-week resubmission cycles. Stakeholders including Andrea McKenna and Donald Killorn of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture have called on Ottawa to streamline the application process, provide regional agency support for smaller farms, introduce more flexible work permit transfers between farms, and expand the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program to additional countries.

Maine senator says ‘tariff exemptions’ coming for some Canadian goods

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 18:59:20.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Agriculture, Economy]

Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is granting tariff exemptions on nine specific categories of Canadian agricultural and packaging goods crucial to Maine industries. The targeted exemptions include corrugated paper or paperboard cartons and boxes, plastic packing bags, refrigeration equipment, agricultural machinery, and seaweed products. The announcement comes amid a tight midterm election campaign where Sen. Collins is facing a dead-heat race against Democrat Troy Jackson, and follows industry complaints regarding supply chain disruptions and a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. As of publication, neither President Trump nor the White House has formally confirmed the statement or detailed the duration of the exemptions.

Trump to exempt some Canadian products from tariffs amid midterm pressure

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 18:44:33.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Agriculture, Industry]

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is poised to lift 50 per cent tariffs—originally imposed in August in retaliation for Canadian countermeasures—on specific Canadian products, including paper and plastic items, refrigeration and packaging equipment, agricultural machinery, and seaweed and algae products. U.S. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced the impending exemptions following intense lobbying by border-state businesses and agricultural producers, such as Maine blueberry growers reliant on Canadian harvesting boxes and cardboard totes, who faced acute supply shortages and political pressures ahead of the November U.S. midterms. Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada remains open to a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the U.S. that protects Canadian interests, noting the government is under no deadline to rush a deal.

Advocates flag contributions, not costs, of newcomers in Alberta referendum aftermath

Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 12:21:33.0
Tags: [Alberta, Immigration, Labour, Healthcare, Economy, Agriculture]

Following an Alberta referendum where a slim majority of voters supported limiting access to or charging fees for provincially funded services based on immigration status, advocates and industry groups have warned of negative economic and operational impacts. Premier Danielle Smith’s government had estimated that healthcare and education costs for temporary residents total $1 billion annually. However, union representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 at the Cargill abattoir in High River, alongside the Christian Health Association of Alberta and the Business Council of Alberta, emphasized the critical economic contributions of newcomers, noting that immigrants paid an estimated $4.1 billion in Alberta personal income taxes in 2026.

Saskatchewan Updates Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Approach for 2026-27

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-22 23:45:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Environment, Agriculture, Public Safety]

The Government of Saskatchewan announced its updated chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing approach for the 2026-27 hunting season, maintaining mandatory testing in designated wildlife management zones and voluntary testing across the rest of the province. Led by Environment Minister Darlene Rowden, the policy responds to hunter feedback to ensure continued access to testing for wild game consumption decisions and to support ongoing wildlife health surveillance. Hunters must submit eligible samples according to regional requirements, with notifications and detailed instructions published on Saskatchewan.ca/CWD by October 31, 2026.

P.E.I. farmer claims victory after settling lawsuit with CRA over shared tax information

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-21 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Taxation, Justice, Agriculture, Environment]

Prince Edward Island potato farmer Alex Docherty, his son Logan Docherty, and their company Skye View Farms settled a $450,000 civil lawsuit in Federal Court against the Canada Revenue Agency in January 2026. The lawsuit alleged the Canada Revenue Agency unlawfully shared personal and corporate tax records with an environmental officer and a Crown prosecutor during a regulatory investigation stemming from a 2016 fish kill in Clyde River, for which Docherty was ultimately acquitted. While the Canada Revenue Agency cited taxpayer confidentiality provisions and declined to comment on the settlement, Docherty is calling on Members of Parliament to clarify or amend federal laws regarding the unauthorized sharing of tax data.

P.E.I. non-profit eyes food hub expansion with possible federal funding

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-17 19:47:43.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, National, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Affordability]

The Prince Edward Island non-profit Growers Station is preparing to apply for federal funding under Ottawa's $3.2 billion, 10-year food security strategy to finance a major physical expansion. The organization aims to double its current operational footprint to increase cold storage capacity, improve distribution for small-scale local Island farmers, and establish an onsite retail and pick-up option alongside its existing online ordering platform. By scaling up physical infrastructure and delivery capacity, the non-profit intends to extend the seasonal availability of local produce and lower operational costs for both producers and small grocers.

Ministers Promote Saskatchewan's Leadership in Nuclear Energy, Mining and Agriculture in Philippines and Japan

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-16 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Energy, Mining, Agriculture, Trade, Industry]

Saskatchewan Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison is leading a mission to the Philippines from October 17 to 23, 2026, to attend the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference and promote the province's uranium sector under the Delivering Energy Security Through Nuclear Power plan, which targets at least 2,600 megawatts of nuclear power by 2050. Concurrently, Minister of Agriculture David Marit is leading a mission to Japan from October 17 to 22, 2026, to engage long-term agrifood buyers and promote trade in a market where Saskatchewan agrifood exports reached $1.2 billion in 2025, driven primarily by canola seed, wheat, barley, durum, and malt.

P.E.I.'s program to protect farmland from development a 'mirage,' report says

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-16 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Agriculture, Environment, Governance, Housing]

A review by commissioner Rory Francis of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission revealed that Prince Edward Island's Land Identification Program, established in 1995 under the Lands Protection Act, fails to provide permanent farmland protection because non-development agreements automatically expire after 10 years. Between 2016 and July 2026, 61,500 hectares (152,000 acres) were protected and are set to expire by 2036, adding to the 121,400 hectares (300,000 acres) that lost protection under a 2015 retroactive policy change. According to Statistics Canada, Prince Edward Island lost 12 percent of its farmland between 2016 and 2021 at an average rate of 39 acres per day, while the provincial government has repeatedly delayed implementing a comprehensive province-wide land use plan recommended since the 1973 Royal Commission on Land Ownership and Land Use.

Buffalo Pound Dam Upgrades Support Reliable Water Supplies for Saskatchewan Communities and Industry

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-15 22:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Infrastructure, Environment, Water, Agriculture, Industry]

The Saskatchewan Government announced significant progress on the $12 million Buffalo Pound Dam upgrades managed by the Water Security Agency, which owns and operates over 70 dams across the province. Major rehabilitation work includes emergency spillway upgrades to restore height and strengthen rock protection, control structure and safety enhancements, erosion and repairs, and bridge deck repaving. Buffalo Pound Lake supplies water to approximately 25 per cent of Saskatchewan's population—including the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw—as well as regional agriculture, two potash mines, and other industrial operations. Furthermore, the province has invested nearly $40 million in more than 60 water infrastructure projects for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with upcoming repairs starting on the Upper Qu'Appelle River channel between the Qu'Appelle River Dam and Tugaske Bridge.

Fisheries minister travelling to China ahead of lobster, crab tariff deadline

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-15 14:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Trade, Fisheries, Agriculture, Economy]

Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson is scheduled to travel to China at the end of October 2026 to negotiate market access and a potential extension for the suspension of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian lobster and crab. The tariff, which impacts approximately 80 per cent of Canadian seafood exports to China, was originally imposed in 2025 following Canadian duties on Chinese steel, aluminum, and electric vehicles, before being temporarily suspended in January under a trade arrangement. In 2024, Canada exported $1.3 billion in seafood to China, making it Canada's second-largest seafood export partner out of total national fish and seafood exports valued at $8.5 billion across 114 countries.

The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act Public Consultation Now Open

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-13 22:30:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Agriculture, Governance]

The Government of Saskatchewan has launched a comprehensive public review of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act, overseen by Agriculture Minister David Marit. The government opened an online public survey available on saskatchewan.ca until November 30, 2026, to gather confidential stakeholder feedback. The consultation specifically examines farm land ownership regulations, home quarter protections, and farm foreclosure protections to ensure the legislative framework continues to meet the needs of provincial residents.

Saskatchewan Ministers Forge Pathways in India

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-10 02:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Trade, Economy, Agriculture, Resources, Education]

Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding and Minister of Advanced Education Ken Cheveldayoff are leading a trade and academic mission to India from October 10 to 16, 2026, to advance bilateral partnerships in food security, critical minerals, energy, and higher education. The ministers will participate in the federal Team Canada Trade Mission programming in Mumbai on October 14, alongside representatives from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2025, Saskatchewan exports to India reached $827 million—primarily driven by potash, lentils, and peas—with trade increasing by 155 per cent year-to-date in 2026, building on past successes such as Cameco's $2.6 billion agreement with India's Department of Atomic Energy.

2027 Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship Now Accepting Applications

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-07 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, National, Agriculture, Education, Economy]

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have opened applications for the 2027 Agriculture Student Scholarship, which is funded through the federal-provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Four scholarships are available to eligible Saskatchewan high school and CAEC graduates entering agriculture-related post-secondary education, featuring a top prize of $6,000 and three runner-up awards of $3,000 each. Applicants must submit a three-minute video or 1,000-word essay addressing solutions to challenges in agriculture by the March 1, 2027 deadline. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership represents a five-year, $3.5-billion federal, provincial, and territorial investment running from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028.

Liberals look to amend 31 laws at once in attempt to reduce red tape

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-07 20:55:26.0
Tags: [National, Governance, Economy, Industry, Agriculture]

The Liberal government introduced Bill S-7, a legislative package designed to amend 31 federal laws simultaneously to reduce bureaucratic red tape following a cross-departmental regulatory review ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney in July 2025. Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali confirmed the legislation targets areas identified by federal departments, including fertilizer regulations, bankruptcy procedures, Canadian Dairy Commission appointments, animal waste management, and the adoption of electronic tools and new technologies.