2024/25 Activities

Making Barley Farmers’ Voices Heard in Ottawa

By Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada

We would first like to welcome SaskBarley to the Grain Growers of Canada family! Over the past year, with SaskBarley and its members as key contributors, we worked to make sure the priorities of Saskatchewan barley farmers were difficult to ignore in Ottawa. From tax policy and transportation to infrastructure and market access, our focus was on issues that shape producers livelihoods.

Advocating Against the Capital Gains Tax Increase

Leading our advocacy was the capital gains tax increase introduced in June 2024, which posed a substantial threat to intergenerational farm transfers and reinvestment in the sector. We campaigned vigorously against this change, ensuring the perspective of grain farmers, including barley producers, was at the center of the national conversation. We launched ProtectFamilyFarms.ca, a microsite and letter-sending campaign that allowed growers to have their voices directly heard by parliamentarians. Hundreds joined in, national headlines were made, and Ottawa took notice. While the government has indicated its intention to remove the proposed increase, it is only deferred until January 2026. Our campaign continues with a clear message: the hike must be permanently reversed.

Carbon Tax Relief for Farmers

At the same time, we pressed for the carbon tax to be lifted from farm fuels used for essential on-farm activities where no viable alternatives exist, recognizing the disproportionate costs grain farmers face at harvest. While the government has reduced the carbon tax rate to zero, we continue to advocate for its permanent removal to provide certainty to producers.

Defending Farmers During Supply Chain Disruptions

Outside of the Hill, we defended farmers during real-world disruptions. Reliable grain movement is critical for grain producers, whether shipping malt barley overseas or supplying feed markets at home. When the CN–CKPC dual rail work stoppage hit during the 2024 harvest, we quickly elevated farmers’ concerns into the national conversation. The same was true when a strike shut down grain terminals at the Port of Vancouver. In both cases, we emphasized the risks to Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier and the immediate impact on farmers waiting for contracts to be filled. These moments highlighted how fragile the supply chain remains and why a long-term change to Canada’s labour relations is necessary.

Supporting the Right to Repair Movement

This year also marked the passage of right to repair legislation. We strongly supported Bills C-244 and C-294, which gave farmers more control over their equipment and reduces downtime during critical seasons. For grain farmers, this means vital machinery repairs can be done more efficiently and at lower cost, an important change for operations where time is everything.

Mobilizing Farmers Ahead of the Federal Election

In the lead-up to the federal election, we launched Vote for Grain, a microsite and letter-sending campaign to give farmers a stronger voice in national debates. By putting grain farmers’ priorities, including trade, transportation, research and development, and fair taxation, on the agenda, we ensured that the concerns of producers were part of the broader political conversation.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Infrastructure, R&D, and Policy Reform

Looking ahead, we continue to advocate for investment in trade-enabling infrastructure that moves grain efficiently from Saskatchewan farms to export markets, expanded research and development to deliver new varieties and tools, permanent reversal of the capital gains tax increase, and lasting relief from the carbon tax.

Through rapid responses to legislative changes and events, sustained campaigns, and forward-looking advocacy, we have ensured that grain farmers remain a key part of Canada’s economic and policy priorities. With SaskBarley’s new partnership, we will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of barley producers and ensure their contributions to our economy and the world’s food supply are recognized and supported.

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