A high clearance sprayer sprays a crop with a concrete inland grain terminal visible in the background.

Ottawa urged to speed up regulatory reform

Growers want to be able to use drones to apply pesticides, while cattle sector wants reduced timelines for approvals

Industry representatives urged government agencies to do more to reduce red tape and reform regulations as the House of Commons standing agriculture committee’s study on that topic got underway late last month.


Close-up of the boom of a parked sprayer with a wind sock in the background on a cloudy day.

More work wanted on removing red tape

Industry says CFIA, PMRA must become more efficient

REGINA — Canadian farmers risk falling further behind competitors if two main federal agencies don’t become more efficient and responsive to what the industry needs, said witnesses appearing before the House of Commons agriculture committee. Industry representatives said Canada lags in many areas. Approvals and decisions take too long and rely on old processes, such […] Read more



From left New Brunswick agriculture minister Pat Finnigan, PEI minister Bloyce Thompson, Alberta minister RJ Sigurdson, Ontario minister Trevor Jones, Manitoba minister Ron Kostyshyn, federal minister Heath MacDonald, BC minister Lana Popham, Sask minister Daryl Harrison, Nova Scotia Greg Morrow and John Streicker from Yukon.

Agriculture ministers commit to enhancing competitiveness

Regulatory reform is already underway to put Canadian farmers on a level playing field

Canadian ag ministers said they want to ensure farmers, ranchers and processors are competitive through ongoing regulatory reform and business risk management programs that work.

A modern John Deere sprayer sprays a canola crop next to a slough with trees in the background.

Input companies complain of regulation creep

Industry says regulatory process is slowing and worries about ‘nice to know versus need to know’ approach

Canada’s competitiveness is at risk if federal agencies don’t streamline approval processes and take farmers’ costs into consideration.

A row of six massive steel grain bins.

Advance payment changes called for

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture policy summit examined several topics the industry is dealing with right now, including trade, and saw a major commodity group rejoin the organization

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture policy summit examined several topics the industry is dealing with right now, including trade, and saw a major commodity group rejoin the organization