• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• Alberta counts the cost of a border with Canada, as the referendum nears

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-25 14:42:50.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Economy, Trade, Energy, Governance, Agriculture]

  Ahead of an October 19 referendum on Alberta separation from Canada, studies commissioned by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the province outline severe economic risks, including $50 billion to $170 billion in setup costs and potential losses affecting 330,000 jobs directly or indirectly supported by interprovincial trade. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe estimated that Alberta's trade with the rest of Canada supports 13 percent of the provincial workforce, while Ontario trades heavily with Alberta, supporting roughly 230,000 Ontario jobs and $34 billion in income. Proponents of separation, such as constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson of the Alberta Transition Council, argue that the province holds major leverage through critical energy exports like the Trans Mountain pipeline.

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• Carney government is inconsistent in how it labels spending, budget watchdog says

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-24 16:39:13.0
  Tags: [National, Finance, Economy, Governance, Agriculture]

  The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, led by Annette Ryan, released a report criticizing the federal Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney for having inconsistent and contradictory definitions of spending within its new budget framework. The framework separates day-to-day operating expenses from capital investment measures, but lacks the stringent definitions used in jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, leading to discrepancies such as two similar Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada programs for farm equipment being classified differently. While Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office maintains that the government will balance its operating budget next year, the Parliamentary Budget Office projects that Ottawa will reach this fiscal anchor two years later.

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• Carney’s cabinet meets in Banff as Trump escalates trade war

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-09-10 12:18:28.0
  Tags: [National, Alberta, Trade, Economy, Governance, Agriculture]

  Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet is holding closed-door meetings in Banff, Alberta, to plan the federal legislative agenda for the upcoming fall sitting of Parliament amid an escalating trade war with the United States. The cabinet retreat follows U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of executive orders to ban certain Canadian imports later in the month, including alcohol, motorcycles, and dairy products. This U.S. action is part of an ongoing tit-for-tat trade dispute after Ottawa levied tens of billions of dollars in counter-tariffs following the breakdown of bilateral trade negotiations.

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• 6 more byelections on horizon will test Liberal momentum, pressure other parties

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-01 21:49:40.0
  Tags: [National, Governance, Trade, Agriculture]

  Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party swept three federal byelections in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, capturing over 50 per cent of the vote in each riding. The victories include Daniel Gobeil's win in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, signaling public support for the government's approach to supply management and trade negotiations with the United States. Six additional federal byelections are pending following recent MP resignations, including former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault and Conservative Larry Brock, which must be called by December 19, 2026.

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