AGRI meeting 21 · 2026-02-03 — Committee Evidence — LegisWatch

Summary

This House of Commons Agriculture and Agri-Food committee meeting continued its study on reference prices in the beef and pork supply chains. Witnesses included Thomas Beretta from Beretta Farms, Calvin Vaags from True North Foods, Indira Moudi from Viandes Lafrance, and officials Donald Boucher from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Diane Allan from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Thomas Beretta described the pressures on small meat processors, including a severe shortage of skilled labour in rural areas and the uncertainty created by the closure of the agri-food pilot for temporary foreign workers in 2025. He recommended extending labour market impact assessments from one to two years, improving provincial nominee programs, and creating a sector-specific immigration stream. He also raised concern about the closure of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre, arguing it will hurt Canada's ability to remain competitive in meat processing.

Calvin Vaags explained that Canadian beef prices are heavily influenced by U.S. markets due to integrated trade, but that this reference pricing is incomplete without adjustments for Canadian costs. He argued that high beef prices stem from a long-term shortage of cattle, as cow-calf producers have not been profitable enough to rebuild the herd. He called for mandatory price reporting in Canada, similar to the U.S. system, and for a support program for small packers based on historical margins to prevent further consolidation.

Indira Moudi stated that the current U.S.-based reference price does not reflect the economic realities of independent Canadian processors, making it impossible for them to compete for large retail contracts despite having capacity and demand for local product. She proposed a targeted safety net triggered when margins fall below a historical threshold, along with temporary liquidity support, to stabilize independent processors. She emphasized that without such tools, Canada risks losing its diversified processing infrastructure and food sovereignty.

Donald Boucher noted that Canada lacks a legislated requirement for mandatory wholesale meat price reporting, unlike the United States, and that AAFC supports industry-led efforts to improve transparency. He acknowledged that a Canadian reference price could increase confidence in supply chains but said the link to consumer prices is not direct, and that regional differences would need to be considered. He confirmed that AAFC is exploring options to support small and medium processors, including through Farm Credit Canada.

Diane Allan stated that the CFIA does not set reference prices or market livestock, but supports the sector through licensing guidance, slaughter service pilots, and regulatory changes to align Canada's specified risk material rules with the U.S. She confirmed that the CFIA is targeting June for publication of those regulatory changes in Canada Gazette, part II, and that recent budget cuts are being managed to protect frontline inspection services.

After the witness testimony, the committee debated a motion to study the closure of several Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centres, including the Lacombe Research and Development Centre. An amendment was proposed to add the Sainte-Foy research centre. The committee ultimately agreed to refer the motion to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure for scheduling.

AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.

Witnesses · 5

Thomas Beretta

General Manager, Beretta Farms

Opening remarks

Good day, all. Mr. Chair, thank you for the invitation and the opportunity to appear today before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. My name is Thomas Beretta. I'm the general manager of Beretta Farms, which is a multi-generational Canadian family-owned and operated meat business. Founded by my parents in southwestern Ontario, Beretta Farms' roots are grounded in the traditional methods of cattle farming through organically raising our animals and offering Canadians and the world a premium option for their protein needs. Today, with operations across the country, we are proud to be Canada's leading meat provider in the organic and antibiotic and hormone-free categories and Canada's largest exporter of beef into Europe. We take pride in our niche branding and abilities to grow, process and market Canada's premium beef and bison. Our federal slaughter facility is located in the small rural town of Lacombe, Alberta, and is approved to process beef, bison and elk. We are eligible to export to markets such as Europe, the U.S., Japan, Korea, the U.A.E. and China. Our volumes put us at the small processor level, but our role in the food supply chain is essential. Not…

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Calvin Vaags

President and Chief Executive Officer, True North Foods

Opening remarks

I'd like to thank the chair and the members for asking us to participate in this meeting. It's a privilege, and I thank you very much. My name is Calvin Vaags, and I am here representing True North Foods, a federally inspected packing plant in the middle of the country. We are right in Manitoba. Our closest federal beef-packing plant to the west is in Brooks, and our closest one to the east is in Guelph, so we cover a wide geographical area. We employ, right now, about 160 people and we process about 180 animals per week. We're a relatively small plant, but I feel we are very important geographically and as a foundation to our industry within Canada. Here is a little bit more background on myself. I also farm, and I have extensive experience right through the beef value chain: from cow-calf to feeding cattle, finishing cattle and retail and wholesale. I have a pretty well-rounded view of the entire beef value chain in Canada and globally. The topic you asked us to speak on was beef reference pricing as it pertains to the U.S. As everybody knows, it is very true, both in pork and in beef—I'm going to talk primarily about beef, of course—that our pricing does start in the U.S.,…

Donald Boucher

Director General, Sector Development and Analysis Directorate, Department of Agriculture and Agri‑Food

Opening remarks

Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to your study on reference prices in the beef and pork supply chains. Canada’s pork and beef sectors are pillars of our agri-food economy. In 2024, together they generated approximately $23 billion in farm cash receipts, supported thousands of jobs in rural and remote communities, and contributed significantly to Canada’s export performance. Each year, roughly 60,000 cattle producers and 7,000 hog producers supply about 1.2 billion kilograms of beef and 2.2 billion kilograms of pork to domestic and international markets. These sectors are deeply integrated with North American supply chains. That integration creates important opportunities for growth and scale, but it also exposes Canadian producers and processors to external risks that must be managed carefully. Last week and earlier today, this committee heard from cattle and swine organizations. They raised concerns related to price transparency, and in particular how reference prices are formed. A central challenge is that reference prices used in Canada for livestock and meat products are…

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