Glacier FarmMedia is dedicated to covering the 2025 federal election with your interests as farmers as our lens. Our team of reporters will be speaking with politicians across Canada during the five-week election campaign. What do YOU want to ask them? Have your say below and we’ll update this page with your responses at bottom.
(Note: all comments will be moderated. Only first names will be visible to other readers)
Federal Election 2025 – Canadian Farmer Feedback
A form to collect Canadian farmer feedback, including questions they would like to ask politicians in the lead-up to the April 28 Federal Election.
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Survey Responses
Darlene (Ontario):
What issues do you want to see federal politicians address?
The annexation of Canada by the U.S.; Trade and tariffs; AgriStability/support for agriculture; Capital gains tax rules
In your opinion, what is the most-pressing issue facing Canadian farmers?
The loss of our land to subdivisions and urban development – including Ford’s attempt to change the provincial policy statement to allow 3 new lots on every farm. On my road, that’s 75 more houses! Equally, the focus on every other type of business except farming. The “On Farm Diversified” category in the provincial policy statement allows businesses to buy up farmland, develop a relationship with local farmers to rent their land for agriculture and then qualify as ‘farmers’ to support putting an entirely different ‘business’ on the farm which does not support the farming. Any other type of business provides more income and pretty soon the farming isn’t happening – and the traffic on our rural roads interferes with the other farmers’ ability to farm (as does the traffic from additional lots on farms!). This was intended to support farming – but what about supporting farmers to do sustainable farming and providing them with additional income to support those efforts – increasing farm income and saving our soil at the same time?!!! Are we so short-sighted that we fall for these short-term solutions!! There is no more land coming our way – we need to PROTECT it!!!!!!!!!!!
If you could ask any of the political leaders a question, what would that question be and who would you ask?
My issues are listed above – I would want to ask all of the federal candidates what they can do to alleviate the issues identified above. Put some restrictions in place to force FORD to appreciate and respect our source of food – which (with tariffs) becomes even more critical. We need to grow and manufacture our OWN food! We need to protect farmland from being taken over by subdivisions and alternative businesses under the guise of providing farmers with a business (or equity from sale of lots for housing) with which to supplement their farm income. Our business is FARMING – help us protect the environment, save the soil and preserve our farm acreage!!
Bruce (Ontario):
What issues do you want to see federal politicians address?
Trade and tariffs; AgriStability/support for agriculture
In your opinion, what is the most-pressing issue facing Canadian farmers?
Processing capacity for all ag commodities. Here in Ontario 25-30,000 hogs a week need to leave the province for slaughter. Canadians lose out on all value added. Is the Federal gov’t anti-ag? Anti-meat?
If you could ask any of the political leaders a question, what would that question be and who would you ask?
What did you eat yesterday and why? Where did the food come from-What country? Question all leaders and MP’s.
Laurie (Ontario/Huron County):
What issues do you want to see federal politicians address?
Trade and tariffs; AgriStability/support for agriculture; Carbon tax; Supply management; Farm labour issues
In your opinion, what is the most-pressing issue facing Canadian farmers?
The taking over of vital farmland to build subdivisions, making it impossible to ever go back to workable land to grow our food. We are needing more than ever to become more self-sufficient together, as a country and to rely on locally grown and produced products and food.
The threat of tariffs from the USA will significantly damage our economy as many of our farming equipment manufacturers are states-side.
If you could ask any of the political leaders a question, what would that question be and who would you ask?
What are you planning to do to protect our farmland and farmers? The cost of living keeps rising, and taxes seem to keep growing, what is your plan to combat the rising prices in essential items, especially our food?
By raising the minimum wage for workers, what it does is drive the prices even higher because now stores will need to pay more for workers and who’s pocket does that come out of? The customer. Instead of raising minimum wage, why not cut the costs at the grocery store and gas pumps to make it more affordable for everyone?
Harry (Ontario):
What issues do you want to see federal politicians address?
Trade and tariffs; AgriStability/support for agriculture; Capital gains tax rules; Carbon tax
In your opinion, what is the most-pressing issue facing Canadian farmers?
Uncompetitiveness with the US and other counties, ie excessive taxation, poor financial support programs, very little manufacturing, processing in Canada, too much red tape .
If you could ask any of the political leaders a question, what would that question be and who would you ask?
Will you change the AgriStability program to a meaningful program, or design a new program that actual takes into account all your expenses and pays out and that takes into account unforeseen circumstances like major weather events and tariffs ? AgriStability is a very ineffective program the way it performs right now.
Hiram (Ontario):
What issues do you want to see federal politicians address?
Trade and tariffs; AgriStability/support for agriculture; Capital gains tax rules; Government spending/debt; Carbon tax
In your opinion, what is the most-pressing issue facing Canadian farmers?
Government red tape, rules regulations and restrictions. We have created a unlevel playing field to the world. Time to wake up and bring production back to Canada in all industries.
If you could ask any of the political leaders a question, what would that question be and who would you ask?
Just address my previous comment. Tear down our trade barriers and bring some common sense back.
