What You Need to Know
Today, the Prime Minister was at the Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto to launch Canada’s first-ever National Food Security Strategy, backed by more than $3 billion in investments over 10 years. The Strategy has four objectives:
Spur grocery store competition and create more choice for Canadians
Invest $1 billion in food infrastructure to build new and expanded food terminals and hubs – helping independent grocers buy and move competitively priced products without relying on large retail chains; and,
Provide the Competition Bureau and Competition Tribunal with nearly $130 million to investigate, prevent, and combat anti-competitive businesses practices.
Boost domestic food production across Canada
Launch a new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance Fund through Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to provide seed capital financing for businesses to expand food processing capacity;
Establish a $150 million Food Security Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses upgrade their equipment to grow, produce, and process more food in Canada; and,
Create a $100 million Collaborative Food Innovation Fund to help producers expand agri-food processing.
Grow fruits and vegetables year-round
Invest $750 million to drastically expand year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables, including through greenhouses, vertical farms, and other enclosed growing spaces.
Cut red tape across the agricultural supply chain
Modernise key regulations; speed up approvals for seeds, feed, fertilizers, and veterinary products; and reduce backlogs that slow down the system to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and producers.
Key Messages
Canada is an agricultural superpower – but it doesn’t feel like it at the checkout counter.
That’s why we launched Canada’s first-ever National Food Security Strategy. Backed by more than $3 billion in investments over ten years, this strategy will break open the market for independent retailers, boost domestic food production, and build a stronger, more independent, more affordable food system for all Canadians.
We’re breaking open the grocery market so independent grocers can compete with the big chains – because more competition means lower prices for Canadians.
We’re growing and processing more food right here at home – creating good jobs and putting more Canada on Canadian plates.
We’re investing in greenhouses and vertical farms so Canadians can buy affordable, Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables all year round – including in the North.
We’re cutting red tape so farmers can get their food from the field to your shelf faster, easier, and cheaper.
A country that can’t feed itself is vulnerable. We’re putting Canadians back in control of what we grow, what we buy, and what we put on our tables.
