Agriculture and Agri-Food

The House of Commons agriculture committee met to study the comprehensive expenditure review’s impact on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson appeared, joined by assistant deputy ministers Alain Lagacé and Andrew Goldstein.

Deputy Minister Hanson said AAFC must find $154.7 million in savings by 2028-29, achieved by cutting operational spending, programming and science. He announced the closure of three research and development centres—in Quebec City, Guelph and Lacombe—and four satellite farms in Scott, Indian Head, Portage la Prairie and Nappan. Hanson argued that consolidating science into fewer facilities would redirect resources from maintenance to core research, and that AAFC would remain the largest agricultural science enterprise in Canada with at least one research centre in every province. He estimated about 27 research scientists—roughly 7% of the total—would not be offered equivalent positions elsewhere.

Alain Lagacé provided financial details, stating that the Indian Head research farm’s total operating costs last year were $3.8 million, though he cautioned that divestiture would take years and some costs would continue. He later explained that the disposal of land and buildings would follow a Treasury Board process, starting with a priority circulation to other government departments, then provinces, municipalities and Indigenous groups.

Andrew Goldstein said AAFC would maintain four research sites in Saskatchewan to preserve program diversity, and that the minor use pesticide program’s personnel and capacity would be preserved by shifting testing to other locations. He noted that partnerships with industry and universities were ongoing to continue work at affected sites.

Conservative members criticized the closures, arguing that the Indian Head and Lacombe facilities had unique soil conditions and long research histories that could not be replicated elsewhere. Andrew Scheer questioned whether an assessment of upgrading equipment had been done, and said seed groups estimated $400 million in lost economic activity from the loss of research years. Blaine Calkins said the Lacombe centre had recently upgraded to biosecurity level two and asked how that capacity would be replaced. John Barlow contrasted the cuts with the on-farm climate action fund, which he called ineffective, and Jacques Gourde asked who ordered the cuts, with Hanson confirming the government’s comprehensive expenditure review.

Liberal members focused on the need to refocus research on core mandates and climate resilience. Marianne Dandurand asked about the transition of the Quebec City centre and the geographic distribution of remaining sites. Emma Harrison asked whether remaining centres could provide climate-change research, and Paul Connors noted that agricultural research methods are evolving, with Hanson pointing to AI and precision agriculture as emerging fields.

Bloc Québécois member Sébastien Lemire opposed the cuts and asked for written impact analyses and financial breakdowns for closed centres. He questioned whether the living labs program’s agreements with producers were jeopardized; Hanson said existing projects would run their course but no second wave would occur. Lemire also noted that Canada invests half as much in agricultural research as many OECD countries.

The committee adopted a motion to approve the report from the subcommittee.