Rural Prosperity Group 2025-04-16 Rural Prosperity Group 2025-04-16

Rural Roundup April 2025: Are we listening? Canada’s go-forward strategy is rural communities

RPG NEWS

Political parties must recognize Rural Canada is essential to economic growth, expanding trade

Rural Canadians are on the front lines in the growing global trade war touched off by the U.S. use of sweeping import tariffs against friend and foe alike across the globe.

With the exception of the recent pandemic, today’s threat to the livelihoods of Canada’s fishers, farmers, foresters, and others in rural and remote communities is more pronounced than anything seen in Canada in many decades.

Adding to the anxiety is the fact that Canadians are immersed in a federal election campaign with only a caretaker government in place as the mounting impact of the unpredictable, onrushing trade war plays out in the economy.

Rural issues under radar in #elxn45

As the 2025 federal election campaign unfolds, rural issues are not taking centre stage in the national conversation. While debates continue to focus heavily on economic prosperity as it relates to the trade war with the U.S. — too often through an urban lens — the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural Canada remain largely under the radar. This is a concern because rural Canada is critical to driving Canada’s strategy going forward. This only makes our efforts that much more important.

That said, there have been moments of recognition. Some party leaders have acknowledged the importance of rural communities in their remarks, pointing to agriculture, resource development, and rural infrastructure as critical components of Canada’s future.

Speaking in Newfoundland during his first campaign stop, Liberal Leader Mark Carney acknowledged the need to harness “all parts of this country … including the outports and rural Canada” and to ensure “changes benefit the rural economy.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said recently that “expanding our energy production and exports is the single most powerful thing we can do to break our dependence on the Americans.”

Canada cannot succeed without a thriving rural economy

These acknowledgments are welcome, but they must be matched with meaningful commitments and detailed policies. As authors of the analysis, In Canada’s 2025 federal election, is anyone paying attention to rural communities?, note: “Rural Canada is vital to the future of Canada. It is critical that all political parties campaigning for the federal election have a platform that meaningfully includes rural Canada — and refrain from focusing only on sectors that operate in rural Canada.”

Rural Canada is home to industries that drive national prosperity and communities that exemplify resilience and innovation — industries that are key to navigating the trade war and creating future prosperity for all. Yet, persistent gaps in broadband access, labour force development, transportation and healthcare services continue to limit economic growth and quality of life in rural areas.

That’s why the Rural Prosperity Group is asking for commitments that ensure no future regulations or policy initiatives that harm rural Canada, even inadvertently, will be implemented, and that any existing policies and regulations be urgently reviewed through a rural lens, so that they truly support the rural way of life and create real opportunities.

We will continue to monitor party platforms and campaign commitments closely and will advocate for public policy that supports rural economic prosperity. Our message is simple: Canada cannot succeed without a thriving rural economy. It’s time for rural voices to be heard — and for leaders to act accordingly.

Honorary chair, vice-chair continue to engage with private sector leaders

Rural Prosperity Group Honorary Chair Candice Bergen and Vice-chair Dennis Dawson continue to hear from private sector stakeholders and industry leaders as part of ongoing efforts to educate on key issues facing rural communities. These conversations aim to gather valuable insights, foster collaboration and explore innovative solutions to support rural development.

Your engagement and input are greatly appreciated. If you would like to join the conversation, set up a time to chat or propose an event, please reach out to us at info@ruralprosperity.ca

TRADE NEWS

Stumpage stunner: U.S. slaps 34 per cent duty on Canadian wood

The U.S. will hike duties on Canadian softwood lumber to 34.45 per cent, from 14.4 per cent currently, Bloomberg News reported, citing a Department of Commerce memo.

Trump has threatened further import taxes on lumber as he awaits a national security investigation into U.S. imports of wood. The U.S. alleges Canadian sawmills are subsidized, known as “stumpage” rates, to undercut the market.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said the increased tariffs are “an attack on forest workers” and spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney about the issue in Victoria on April 7.

Eby told reporters his government will provide support for the lumber sector and help forestry companies diversify their trade away from the U.S.

“To every forestry worker in British Columbia hearing the news of this impending increase to softwood lumber duties, know this: We have got your back and your government will fight for you,” Eby said adding his government will continue to work with business, labour and First Nations leaders “to seek approaches to defend the hard-working forestry workers of B.C., their families and the industry as a whole from the increasingly hostile actions of our largest trading partner.”

U.S., Chinese tariffs having severe impacts on canola growers

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says China’s 100 per cent import tax on canola is the “most urgent and most significant” impacting Saskatchewan’s economy.

Additionally, for Canada’s 40,000 canola growers, considered most at risk from U.S. tariffs among this country’s farm sectors, the lack of new U.S. trade barriers was considered an important — although possibly temporary — development.

“While the threat of immediate tariffs has been reduced, the risk and uncertainty of tariffs has not been eliminated,” said Rick White, President and CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. “Concerns over U.S. tariffs add considerable uncertainty for farmers preparing to plant the 2025 canola crop.”

Canola is the single largest contributor to Canada’s farm crop cash receipts, and the U.S. is Canada’s number one market for canola exports, which totaled $7.7 billion in 2024.

Tariffs causing ‘heck of a hit’ for farmers, ag equipment makers

Trump’s April 2 decision not to hike import levies against Canada as part of his “reciprocal” tariffs was also a relief to Saskatchewan’s potash producers, whose $4.2 billion in exports to the U.S. account for the vast majority of the potash used by American farmers. Most potash exports to the U.S. are eligible for zero tariffs under CUSMA, the industry says.

U.S. farmers are feeling the hit, however.

A prime example of the damaging uncertainty from the U.S.’s trade war is the farm equipment manufacturing business. Farmers' appetite for new combines, tractors and other farm equipment has slumped, and manufacturers are pulling back, Reuters reported.

The tariffs on all goods and the specific additional tariffs on steel and aluminum will trigger severe disruptions in our integrated supply chains, inflate costs for U.S. farmers who depend on Canadian-made equipment and raise food costs for families across North America, jeopardizing thousands of good jobs in Canada, Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC) said in a statement.

“Tariffs directly threaten jobs, businesses and families across Canada,” AMC President Donna Boyd said. “We have built one of the largest bilateral partnerships and must continue to take decisive action to protect it. The risks to our communities, both economically and ensuring there is adequate food on the table, are too high.”

Doug Sombke, president of the South Dakota Farmers Union, told CBC the U.S. tariffs are a “horrible idea” that make purchases of necessary farm equipment much more expensive.

For example, Canada makes high-quality, no-till drills — specialized equipment that plants seeds without disturbing the soil — but their $1 million price tag would cost a U.S. farmer $250,000 more with the tariff, Sombke told CBC.

"That's a heck of a hit," he said.

$2.2M daily loss: Growers reel from brief tariff hit

The $7.4 billion fruit and vegetable producing sector, which sends 48 per cent of its products to the U.S., remains at risk should Trump re-impose across-the-board 25 per cent import taxes on Canadian exports.

During the brief window of March 4-7, when the Trump tariffs were in full effect, greenhouse growers in Ontario alone reported losses of $2.2 million a day in sales, according to analysis by the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC).

FVGC has recommended the creation of a dedicated emergency fund to provide direct compensation for greenhouse operators and other fruit and vegetable growers, domestic price supports to prevent market collapse during harvest periods and regional support packages addressing unique provincial conditions.

Manitoba facing trade war on two fronts: Kinew

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says manufacturers or oil producers who are “outside CUSMA” will be “sorting this out in real time” to determine what the impact of Trump’s tariffs are.

The 25 per cent border tariff on Canadian goods that are non-compliant with CUSMA, and a 10 per cent levy on oil and potash, all affect Manitoba producers, he said.

Kinew reminded everyone that his province faces a trade war “on two fronts” — not just Trump’s tariffs, but also import taxes from China on pork, canola meal, seafood and other products that Beijing has tariffed in response to Canada’s 100-per cent levy on Chinese EV exports.

The new Chinese tariffs on $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products are deepening the problems dogging many producers.

“These Chinese tariffs could not have come at a worse time as Canadian producers already combat unfair and unjustified trade actions from the United States,” said Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

Among those facing new challenges from Beijing’s trade backlash are Canada’s pork producers. China remains Canada’s third-largest pork export destination, behind the U.S. and Japan, with exports valued at roughly $500 million annually.

‘Buy Indigenous’ campaign launched against levies

The Canadian Council for Indigenous Business responded to U.S. tariffs, saying they were unjustified and threaten to undermine Canadian and Indigenous economic growth and the principles of fair and equitable trade.

The group is launching several initiatives, including a ‘Buy Indigenous’ campaign to encourage consumers, corporations and governments to prioritize Indigenous products and services.

“As Indigenous people, we have a long and proud history of trade that predates any border on Turtle Island. We understand very well how to adapt, advocate, and support one another through challenges. This moment is no different,” CCIB said in a press release.

Showcase your leadership and get your message out

If you have a policy issue that requires a comprehensive deep dive, we would love to hear about it and showcase it to our broader communication audience. Reach out today to partner with us through content contributions or advertising in The Rural Roundup and more. Email us at info@ruralprosperity.ca to set up a time to chat.

ELECTION NEWS

Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre. / FACEBOOK PHOTO

Poilievre vows to build ‘economic fortress’ by unleashing energy sector

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a strategy April 2 to protect Canada’s economy from potential U.S. trade action, promising to build what he called an “economic fortress” in response to U.S. tariffs.

He announced a three-part plan involving short-term retaliation, renegotiation of the Canada-U.S. trade agreement, and long-term economic reform. The immediate response would include “reciprocal tariffs” and a “Keep Canadians Working Fund” to support impacted industries.

A central theme of his remarks was bolstering domestic production, particularly in the energy sector. “We will remove gatekeepers and green light Canadian energy,” he said, adding that his government would “approve and allow the rapid construction of new LNG export terminals and pipelines” and remove anti-energy laws.

"Expanding our energy production and exports is the single most powerful thing we can do to break our dependence on the Americans," he said.

Poilievre spoke in Saint John, N.B., during a campaign stop and responded to a question on the impact of tariffs on rural communities in N.B.

“We will make sure that businesses have the support they need to keep their workers in their jobs through the dispute,” he said, repeating that it’s time to put Canada first, axe taxes and green light resource projects.

He announced a planned national energy corridor backstopped with regulations to expedite the approval of transmission lines, railways, pipelines and other critical infrastructure.

Canada needs big projects that link its regions east to west as Trump threatens Canada with tariffs, Poilievre said.

The Conservative leader has also noted that his government would “protect our border, our security, our resources, our farmers, including our supply-managed farmers, our fresh water, and our automotive workers.”

Liberals to work with oil and gas sector to reduce emissions’

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Mark Carney also outlined a plan he says will strengthen Canada’s energy sector as global trade tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, continue to disrupt markets. Carney emphasized that Canada’s energy industry, which supports over 700,000 jobs, is central to the nation’s economic resilience.

The plan focuses on three key areas: energy security, trade diversification, and long-term competitiveness.

Key promises include investing in critical minerals, accelerating exploration with tax credits, and fast-tracking national projects with Indigenous and provincial support. Plans also include streamlining approvals via a new federal office, building an East-West clean energy grid, and boosting both clean and conventional energy to reduce U.S. reliance and expand trade.

“We will work with the oil and gas sector to reduce emissions efficiently while maintaining competitiveness,” a press release noted.

Bloc Québécois promises to reintroduce Bill C-282 as first act when parliament returns

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. / FACEBOOK PHOTO

The Bloc Québécois released its platform, announcing a trade policy focused on ensuring Quebec’s representation in trade negotiations, countering U.S. protectionism, and strengthening the province’s economy.

It proposes aid for companies hit by the trade war, funded by counter-tariff revenues.

As soon as Parliament returns, the party is committed to reintroducing Bill C-282, Protecting Supply Management in Trade Negotiations. This will “ensure that our farmers and processors are not sacrificed yet again by Ottawa in the CUSMA.”

The Bloc said it wants the government to prioritize the bill so that it receives Royal Assent before the summer of 2025. Additionally, the Bloc will push for parliamentary approval of free trade agreements before ratification.

"This is not a rural issue. The quality of milk and the predictability of prices are guaranteed by supply management,” Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said. “Supply management, through legislative avenues, must be irrevocably and concretely protected before the start of any formal negotiations with the Americans.”

Other platform promises include:

Promote Quebec wood use in construction via a federal wood charter.
Request Ottawa transfer cell coverage funds to Quebec, as with high-speed Internet.
Push for a cap on oil and gas sector GHG emissions to ensure yearly reductions through 2030.
Call for an end to all fossil fuel subsidies and public support.
Support carbon pricing nationwide.
Oppose greenwashing in all forms.
Ban thermal coal exports.
Tax oil and gas windfall profits, reinvesting revenues in climate adaptation.

Election news in brief

NDP aims to bring more docs, cheaper food and better roads to region, Sudbury Star, April 14

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh unveiled a Northern Ontario plan focused on improving health care access, lowering grocery costs, upgrading roads, and supporting French-language services. Promises include targeted investments in local doctors, food affordability, infrastructure, and bilingual programs to ensure no Northern community is left behind.

In Manitoba’s Wheat City, uncertainty over tariffs is causing frustration for everyone, The Globe and Mail, April 4

With the local economy tightly tied to U.S. trade, the evolving political landscape leaves residents and businesses anxious, adjusting to a future that feels increasingly unpredictable.

Voters in Osoyoos, B.C., divided over political leadership as federal election nears, The Globe and Mail, March 30

Amid trade tensions, a health care crisis, and climate woes, locals debate whether change or continuity will better secure their future.

Canada’s ‘most notorious city’ weighs in on the federal election, CTV News, April 1

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, known for its rich history, murals, and the famous underground tunnels tied to Al Capone, thrives on tourism, especially from the U.S. and across Canada. Amid curling excitement and historic charm, locals voice concerns over trade tensions, health care, and political division ahead of the federal election.

Liberals unveil agriculture plan focused on protection and investment, Means & Ways, April 4

Liberal Leader Mark Carney pledged to keep supply management out of U.S. trade talks, calling it “part of our economic sovereignty.”

Industrial carbon pricing would kill Canadian steel industry, Poilievre claims, The Canadian Press, April 9

Poilievre argued that many of Canada’s steel producers would “shut down and go south,” and that “there will be no steel industry left in Canada” if the industrial carbon pricing law remains in place.

Federal election 2025: What’s at stake for immigration policy?, iPolitics, April 4

“It’s unclear what Carney or Poilievre would prioritize when setting their respective immigration policies, but, … it is something the next government must address, as the public’s consensus in favour of immigration is largely dependent on welcoming skilled professionals to Canada,” iPolitics reports.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Agnico’s $600K golden ticket to lure docs to northern town

Toronto-based gold mining company Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. is contributing $600,000 to a $1.8 million fund dedicated to bringing more physicians to Timmins, according to a report in Northern Ontario Business. The fund offers $60,000 “start-up grants” and $150,000 interest-free loans to doctors who are willing to relocate to the resource-rich city in northeastern Ontario. Agnico Eagle VP of Ontario Andrew Leite says he hopes other companies in the area will follow suit.

Ottawa targets health gaps with wider loan program

The federal government is also making moves to lure doctors and nurses to rural and remote parts of the country by expanding its student loan forgiveness program. Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, speaking in Hawkesbury, Ont., said recent changes to the program will make more than 200 additional communities eligible and bring more than 900 more doctors and nurses to under-served areas over the next decade. This expansion builds on existing support, which offers up to $60,000 in loan forgiveness for family doctors and $30,000 for nurses working in eligible communities over five years.

**Murad Al-Katib, CEO of AGT Foods and Ingredients** / UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN PHOTO

From zero to $3.5B: AGT's Al-Katib on surviving trade shocks

Murad Al-Katib, CEO of AGT Foods and Ingredients and widely known as the “Lentil King of Saskatchewan,” says he’s not panicking about the global trade uncertainty because he’s seen it before.

“Protectionism of U.S. domestic agriculture as a policy has been present and prevalent in successive U.S. administrations, no matter the political stripe,” Al-Katib told the Globe and Mail.

He sees tariff threats ultimately being scaled back because food inflation is the primary consideration in the U.S. affordability agenda. “Food and energy security, in my mind, will be the two areas where we’ll have breaks quickest, if not a complete resolution.”

Al-Katib, who led his business from a basement start-up in 2001 to a global company with $3.5 billion in revenue and 3,600 employees, said if he were prime minister for one day, “I would invest $100 billion in trade infrastructure.”

“I’m talking about the linkage of roads, rail and port infrastructure. Canada’s reputation has been that we produce among the highest-quality food in the world, but we are not as reliable in getting it to market,” he said.

Canadian policy has lagged behind the changing dynamics of global trade, he says, because we’ve been caught in “the commodity ghetto for too long.” In 2017, with no warning, India imposed massive tariffs on lentils, chick peas and peas, forcing AGT to adapt. The company shifted focus to other regions, especially North Africa and the Middle East. “We’ve put in a lot of effort to continue to develop those market outlets,” Al-Katib said. “We need to be nimble and able to pivot.”

That also means investing in the future of farming: “Saskatchewan will produce 10 million tonnes of additional agricultural products in the next eight years. So you can’t just have a digital economy in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal. You also need it in rural areas where we have production.”

Rural Canada listens

Wheat Pete’s Word is a high-energy, weekly podcast hosted by agronomy expert Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson. Known for his no-nonsense advice and infectious enthusiasm, Pete digs into listener questions and explores everything from soil health and cover crops to crop management strategies that boost yield and resilience.

In the latest episode, he blends wisdom and wit as he tackles the difference between positive and negative reinforcement, shares a powerful story from his ag extension days, and draws unexpected connections between theatre, mental health, and soil testing. His message? Self-care matters just as much as your soil test results — if you want to thrive, not just survive.

We want to hear from you

Do you have news, analysis or upcoming events related to rural Canada to share? Are you doing interesting and noteworthy things to unleash rural Canada’s potential? We’d be happy to showcase you or your organization. Please get in touch: info@ruralprosperity.ca.

Rural Prosperity Group 2025-03-03 Rural Prosperity Group 2025-03-03

The Rural Roundup - March 2025

Spotlight on rural Canada: Resilience being tested again

Now more than ever, after hearing directly from stakeholders and Canadians through conversations and submissions, it’s essential for us to take a moment to reflect on our shared vision for rural Canada’s economic prosperity.

Every day, we are reminded that rural Canadians are looking, both personally and through their organizations, for more focus and action on their concerns. These include everything from immigration and workforce integration to connectivity and taxation policies, especially regarding the climate impact on rural communities. One stakeholder summed it up well, saying, “We need a new approach to economic development in Canada.”

Since the launch of the Rural Prosperity Group, we have witnessed the resilience and ingenuity of rural communities. With great uncertainty on the North American trade front, that resilience will again be tested.

Our mission is to highlight the critical importance of rural Canada and the rural way of life to our country’s economic growth and prosperity. We are doing this by:

Bringing together diverse voices to deepen ties and foster dialogue on the unique considerations for rural communities. Our reach currently spans Canadians living in rural Canada and public policy stakeholders at urban and rural boardroom tables. We are meeting Canadians where they are, whether that’s at a Royal Canadian Legion on Fogo Island, Nfld., at a Cercle des fermières in Québec, at a dairy farm in Steinbach, Man., or at a small business in downtown Vancouver, as well as online.
Sharing rural Canadian stories and successes and promoting your initiatives through diverse and effective communication channels.
Asking for commitments that ensure no future regulations or policy initiatives that harm rural Canada, even inadvertently, will be implemented, and that any existing policies and regulations be urgently reviewed through a rural lens, so that they truly support the rural way of life and create real opportunities.

Currently we are focused on reaching out, through our lobbyist, to political parties and transition teams, ahead of the upcoming election to raise awareness about the need to include a focus on rural in their platforms. With Finance Canada Budget 2025 consultations underway, we’re also finalizing a submission and will engage further.

In the coming weeks, you’ll also see more from Rural Prosperity Group as we implement a digital campaign to hear from Canadians and meet them where they are online. Expect our evolved communication to reflect a natural shift post-diagnostique phase of focusing on challenges and gaps, to an equal amount of shedding light on the promise of rural Canada. We will engage Canadians on those opportunities, including sharing the input received to date.

Additionally, as things unfold, and keeping in mind the intricacies of our North American markets, we remain vigilant about any engagement outside Canada. We welcome any thoughts on this at any time: info@ruralprosperity.ca.

This Rural Roundup will keep you and all stakeholders informed of our activities and highlight rural communities' needs and contributions. We would love to hear from you so that we can share your story and the stories of your neighbours. Please send your ideas to us.

You are central to these efforts and we look forward to collaborating!

**Honorary vice-chair Dennis Dawson pictured with honorary chair Candice Bergen at the NAC just after launching the Rural Prosperity Group.**

Honorary chair meets with stakeholders

The Hon. Candice Bergen, honorary chair of the Rural Prosperity Group, met with agriculture stakeholders in Ottawa last month to outline the group’s work and promote rural Canada, which she said is “the jewel of our nation.”

She celebrated the dairy sector’s leadership on rural prosperity, innovation and job creation, and discussed the need to both protect the “rural way of life” and educate urban Canadians about the value rural prosperity brings to not only their own lives but the success of organizations as well.

Separately, in a widely-attended Forest Products Association of Canada event in the fall, Bergen was awarded the Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Award for her commitment to Canada's natural resources and rural way of life over the course of her career.

“It was a privilege to work for Canadians from coast to coast and see the important work they were doing to help make our country a better place. This was especially true in our rural and remote communities, where our forestry sector is often the key driver of economic growth,” she said.

During a panel discussion that she moderated at the same event, Bergen said, “There's a real lack of services that has a direct effect on rural Canadians and how we can operate our businesses and grow.”

She and honorary vice-chair Dennis Dawson are committed to bringing urgency to the issues through public communication.

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Primer on way forward on looming U.S. tariffs: ‘Quite simply, bad business’

As of Monday morning, Donald Trump's tariff plans remain unpredictable.

An executive order issued today lays the groundwork to remove the rule that allows certain low-value shipments from Canada to enter the U.S. without paying tariffs.

On March 4, he has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on most Canadian goods, though delays are possible, and experts expect either another postponement or a smaller tariff.

On March 12, a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminum is likely, impacting Canada significantly. The scope remains unclear, and enforcement could extend to car parts and construction materials. A delay is also possible.

By April 1, the U.S. will review trade measures, potentially leading to global minimum tariffs or targeted retaliatory tariffs against certain countries, including Canada.

On April 2, Trump has threatened 25 per cent tariffs on auto, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and possibly lumber imports, which could harm Canada’s economy.

Later in spring 2025, Trump may use these tariffs as leverage to renegotiate CUSMA, demanding more access to Canada’s dairy market, changes to digital trade policies, and auto trade restrictions. If Canada resists, Trump could threaten to withdraw from the agreement.

The U.S. has justified these measures as necessary to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to implement “dollar-for-dollar, matching tariffs” on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods if the U.S. tariffs proceed. The initial phase imposes 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion of American imports, with plans to extend these tariffs to the remaining $125 billion within three weeks. This stance reflects Canada's commitment to defending its economic interests amid the escalating trade dispute.

While many others are, the rural agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable. Canadian farmers export approximately 60 per cent of their products to the U.S., and industry leaders are concerned about the potential impact of tariffs on cash flow and profitability.

Chris Davison, president of the Canola Council of Canada, noted that farmers are likely to be affected across all aspects of their operations. “Certainly, farmers will unfortunately feel the impact,” he said. “We anticipate it will touch virtually all facets of their operations.”

Additionally, U.S. refiners are exploring alternatives to Canadian oil in anticipation of the tariffs, which could disrupt existing supply chains and impact operations.

The potential for a full-scale trade war looms, with significant implications for industries and consumers in both countries. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to resolve the disputes and prevent even further escalation, however, the last thing our rural innovators need is continued uncertainty.

Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, says the tariffs will have negative consequences on both sides of the border. “Our agriculture sectors rely on each other, not just to sell products to one another but also to provide essential inputs to grow food such as fertilizer.”

Our competitors around the world are the only winners in a trade dispute between Canada and the U.S., Currie said, adding, “Tariffs are quite simply, bad business.”

In a joint-statement, the Canadian Cattle Association and the National Cattle Feeders' Association said the beef industry would seek an exemption from the blanket tariffs, and will be advocating for relief support for impacted producers.

Rural Canada is the backbone of our economy. It includes workers in the following industries:

Innovative sectors
Agriculture
Forestry
Natural resources
Telecommunications
Vital infrastructure and supply chains
Technology (delivering healthcare to rural and remote communities) and more!

Rural Canada is a key creator of wealth and opportunity for the entire country and its industries are major drivers of exports to the U.S. Any increase in tariffs or trade restrictions would almost certainly result in reduced market access, lower prices for Canadian products and job losses in rural industries. This will directly impact farm incomes, disrupt supply chains and hurt small businesses that rely on exports to sustain their operations.

POV: Forest group head champions made-in-Canada essentials

By Derek Nighbor
President and CEO, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

While being immediately felt in rural and northern Canada, the current U.S. tariff threat facing Canada’s forest sector has serious implications for the rest of the country. It’s a wake-up call to urgently improve competitiveness and infrastructure, and to diversify export markets — in tandem with our efforts in this new world to evolve our shared economic and security partnership with our American neighbours.

Forestry has long been a cornerstone of the Canadian and North American economies. But it’s not the $87 billion-plus in revenue it generates annually that tells the story. Forestry’s economic, environmental and social benefits come from the more than 200,000 Canadians directly employed in the sector, living and working in hundreds of communities across the country.

In these uncertain times, it would serve us to remember the lessons we learned during the pandemic about the importance of domestic supply chains and the need to ensure we can provide essential products to all Canadians. We must prioritize growing our natural resource industries sustainably, so we are not depending on other countries for basic goods and supplies — and we can reliably generate economic wealth for Canadian families.

Canada’s forestry communities are on the front line providing innovative “made-in-Canada” essentials that can address our most basic needs, including affordable housing, biofuel, paper packaging, diapers and other hygiene products. It’s high time that we recognize these workers and the contributions they make to the rest of Canada by ensuring we have a clear national economic plan that reflects their unique local conditions.

Today, and throughout our history, forestry forms a backbone for Canada by keeping hundreds of communities alive and leading the world. Rural Canadians deserve a clear economic growth plan that can make a positive difference in the lives of the people who call these communities home.

Showcase your leadership and get your message out

Stability in #cdnpoli even more sorely needed today

This has been a tumultuous number of months for Canadian federal politics and the ground continues to shift rapidly. Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney has taken the lead in the race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader, following Trudeau's resignation announcement earlier this year. Some would say Carney’s decision to enter the race has revived the outlook for the Liberals in the upcoming election, which could be announced as early as March.

Polls now show that the Liberals, who only weeks ago looked like no-hopers to retain power, have narrowed the once-massive gap with the Conservative Party of Canada to a thin single-digit advantage. Most observers believe this might not have happened without the sense of urgency created by U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariff plan — not to mention his casual comments about annexing Canada — however the picture in Canadian federal politics has changed completely, though it certainly remains chaotic.

As you know, Parliament is prorogued, with lawmakers not due to return until March 24 and as such the state of our government’s finances is in suspended animation. Lawmakers have been deprived of an opportunity to debate the government’s fiscal update which showed a $62 billion federal deficit. Leaders of all political parties, including Pierre Poilievre, are quickly recalibrating messages and platforms to respond to the hardball tactics coming out of Washington.

“Canada’s next Prime Minister must hit the ground running and be laser-focused on strengthening the Canada-U.S. trade relationship,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candace Laing has said. “Any business owner knows the dangers of staying in the red year after year. Any homeowner knows that mortgages shouldn’t get bigger over time. The lack of fiscal accountability … combined with a government in total disarray, creates profound instability for Canadian businesses and families at a time when we need the opposite.”

For rural Canadians, there were several areas touched on in the FES that still need to be clarified. Prior to proroguing parliament, the Liberals promised to invest in the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, expand the Canada Carbon Rebate rural top-up, prioritize a new Community Banking Initiative and support the conversion of the Belledune Generating Station to biomass.

These demonstrate a clear recognition of the challenges faced by communities across Canada. The deficit will have a detrimental effect on rural Canada, particularly now that tensions with the U.S. may require a significant shift in how Canadian policymakers prioritize spending, for instance, toward meeting NATO targets or supporting workers whose jobs have been affected by any trade war.

“Canada’s business community remains extremely worried about the government’s lack of a robust plan to tackle the expanding deficit and revive economic prosperity,” said Laing. “From manufacturers to farmers, a strained relationship with the U.S. will be felt across every sector.”

A former senior trade official said the timing of the tariff threat is “very unfortunate” for Canada as our own political landscape is unstable. “We're really not in the kind of position we would like to be in terms of having a clear, coherent strategy going forward, given all that uncertainty,” the official said at a recent conference. “All of these issues, whether it's the issues at the border, trade, deficit concerns, unfair trade practices, all of this is eventually going to turn into some kind of negotiation, and then it's a question of how we can best deal with that.”

The official emphasized the need to have a plan rather than starting off too early by making concessions. “Others have said we may need to make certain obligations with respect to our resources,” he said. “And I'm sure you've heard, as I have, as some have said, we need to put dairy on the table. I think that is completely misreading the situation with the U.S. It was very clear from the negotiation we had with the last Trump administration that resulted in the CUSMA that if you offer the U.S. concessions too early, they're not going to have much value at all. The U.S. is simply going to accept them.”

It is now vital that the government demonstrates the stability and commitment required to deliver tangible results for all Canadians.

**Liberal Party leadership candidates Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, pictured in Montreal at the English debate on Feb. 25.**

Liberal leadership candidates give shout-out to rural Canada

Two Liberal leadership candidates raised the importance of rural Canada during the English debate on Feb. 25 in Montreal and another did so during their campaign launch.

In response to a question about productivity in the face of tariff threats from the U.S., Chrystia Freeland noted that rural Canada is a key piece of the puzzle.

“I do want to talk about a part of the economy where there have been huge leaps in productivity, which is central to Canada's resilience and economic strength, particularly as we face up to Donald Trump, and that is rural Canada,” she said. Having herself grown up on a farm in Alberta, she said she knows how farmers “are an important source of strength when it comes to this standoff with the U.S.”

Karina Gould said she supports rural Canada’s economies and as prime minister would revive Bill C-282 to protect supply management. “It was a piece of legislation that unfortunately died when we prorogued parliament, but I think it is imperative that we protect our supply-managed sectors,” she said. “One of the frustrations that [audience member] Roland had with us as a government is that we haven't spoken enough about sectors in rural Canada, whether that is mining, whether that is energy, whether that is agriculture, whether that is forestry.”

At Freeland’s campaign launch in Toronto, Liberal Quebec MP and caucus chair Stéphane Lauzon remarked that he’s worked with Freeland over the last nine years and knows she’s engaged with all Canadians “in big cities and small towns and rural regions.”

“We know rural regions are the heart of our economy and our identity,” he said, adding that Freeland understands that all regions in Canada need to be supported.

When she took the stage, Freeland spoke about growing up in rural Alberta. “While Toronto is now my home, I was born in Peace River, Alta., a place in the rural part of our country that Stéphane Lauzon spoke about so movingly. My dad's a farmer and a small-town lawyer and my mother was a Ukrainian immigrant who arrived here with her family as a child,” she said, noting she owes a lot to her parents’ hard work.

At his launch in Edmonton, Mark Carney spoke about some of the issues facing Canadians, including in rural Canada. “Our times are anything but ordinary. The system is not working as it should and it's not working as it could,” he said, adding many Canadians are falling behind, unable to find family doctors or afford their home. “We're living through the two biggest technological revolutions since they split the atom. Our climate is changing in ways that threaten livelihoods from Fort Mac to Fort Smith.”

Many hurdles, but rural and small-town businesses remain optimistic according to StatsCan survey

Businesses in Canada’s rural and small-town (RST) areas faced a complex economic landscape in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a new analysis based on the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions. Key challenges included rising input costs, labour shortages and increasing debt burdens, which also impacted functional urban areas. Despite these hurdles, a majority of businesses expressed optimism about their 12-month prospects.

Report highlights divergence between rural and northern areas

The State of Rural Canada 2024 report by the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation highlights challenges and opportunities in rural, remote and northern communities. While some areas face population decline, others are growing through immigration and returning residents. Traditional industries are evolving, and new sectors like renewable energy and technology offer growth potential.

Rural areas face climate risks, aging infrastructure and limited services, but northern communities show resilience, according to the report, which pointed to partnerships with Indigenous communities, digital innovation, sustainable economies and local food systems. It calls for a National Rural Strategy, climate-resilient infrastructure, better healthcare and Indigenous-led initiatives to build a stronger, more prosperous rural Canada.

Despite challenges, there are opportunities to leverage digital technologies, create sustainable economic models and strengthen local food systems, the report says.

Immigration cuts mean rural communities will age faster

Canada's Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027, released in October 2024, forecasts a 0.2 per cent population decline in 2025 and 2026, followed by a return to 0.8 per cent growth in 2027. During this period, the population aged 65 and older is expected to increase by nearly three per cent annually.

The working-age population (ages 15-64) could shrink by over 450,000 between late 2024 and late 2026, the report said. In contrast, international immigration and non-permanent residents in this age group grew by more than one million in 2024 — about the size of the entire population of Nova Scotia.

Rural communities are aging faster than urban areas, as they lack the influx of new residents from immigration.

“The odds of immigrants moving into rural Canada have actually decreased over time rather than increased,” said Lindsay Finlay, a PhD candidate in sociology at Western University and the lead author of The Places We'll Go: Rural Migration in Canada. “It's the kind of things like a lack of transportation, a lack of employment, academic opportunities. There's also the risk of potential discrimination in these areas.”

Exploring ways to attract more immigrants, invest in workforce training and leverage technology to mitigate labour shortages and sustain economic growth need to be priorities.

Fitbits for cows? How technology can propel rural economies

Karen is a dairy farmer who uses cutting-edge technology, which she likens to a “Fitbit for cows,” to monitor their health and productivity. This technology allows her to track each cow’s activity, food intake and milk production, helping her make informed, data-driven decisions.

“I can honestly say I probably know more about my individual cows than my kids on some days,” she joked. “We track all the components in their milk, their feed intake. And we’re evaluating the data, asking are we doing the best job possible? Is there anything that stands out that we can tweak to make it that much better for the cows?”

A mother of four, she and her husband now run their 400-cow operation supported by eight employees. She fosters a compassionate workplace and takes pride in producing high-quality, nutritious food. “It’s amazing what is actually happening on dairy farms, using data-driven decisions and making the best animal care choices,” she said.

CGI’s AI innovations save lives in rural, remote communities

The inaugural podcast episode of I4 Insights explores how cutting-edge technology is transforming healthcare, particularly for rural and remote communities.

Joy Ardz from CGI highlighted an innovative project originally designed for astronauts that has direct applications for underserved populations: “We developed a smart container that had the ability to check in, guide the patient through this whole interactive experience of self-testing, telemedicine, medical education, and treatment.”

This technology could revolutionize healthcare access in isolated regions, including Indigenous communities.

Andrew Doner, CGI’s VP of AI and Analytics, discussed AI’s role in diagnostics and efficiency, citing a collaboration with Helsinki University that uses AI to detect brain hemorrhages days or weeks before they become critical: “By having the AI solution complement the experts, we’re now able to diagnose and begin to treat those issues in advance.”

Joshua McCutcheon, a senior program consultant from Alberta Health Services asked: “I'm curious, what does this mean for Alberta? What are the next steps and how could we bring some of this work to start affecting our rural communities or individuals who are looking to access their information in a more meaningful way to them.”

Ardz highlighted the need for a human-centred, design-thinking approach in Alberta’s healthcare policy. She compared healthcare data flow to an angiogram, explaining that blockages in patient information and access can be just as harmful as physical health conditions.

Doner reinforced the urgency of adopting AI responsibly to handle growing healthcare demands, stating, “It’s time to be bold, be brave, be courageous and get after it with a bias to action.”

The episode also covered CGI’s work with Indigenous communities, using AI-powered risk assessments for fire safety and virtual assistants to improve healthcare accessibility. These initiatives demonstrate how technology can bridge gaps in rural healthcare, streamline operations, and improve patient outcomes. “These kinds of technologies allow us to bring world-class expertise into communities that otherwise wouldn’t have access,” Doner said.

Listen to the full podcast here.