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