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Agriculture and Agri-Food

In question period, members discussed federal agricultural research, specifically seed research at the Indian Head research farm. Andrew Scheer of the Conservatives said the Liberals were ending seed research there, putting local jobs at risk, and noted the site has over a century of data and unique soil; he asked the government not to cut this research while funding farming projects abroad. Liberal minister Heath MacDonald replied that federal research continues, the government maintains 17 research sites across the country, operations at Indian Head will continue through 2027, and the government is working with universities on research.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Andrew Scheer

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government is ending seed research at the Indian Head farm, which hurts local jobs. This site has over 100 years of data and unique soil that cannot be replaced. The government should not cut this valuable Canadian research while spending money on farming projects in other countries.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is all talk and no results. The Liberals announced that they are eliminating seed research at the Indian Head research farm, jeopardizing local jobs. Many groups, like the Grain Growers of Canada and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, have all condemned this decision. Now, the minister will claim that this work will continue at another site, but here is the problem. The site at Indian Head has over 100 years of data, unique soil conditions and local staff with decades of expertise and knowledge. This research is worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the Canadian ag industry. In the meantime, the government found millions of dollars for foreign aid for projects, like gender-just rice farming, that deliver no benefits for Canadians. Why is the government sacrificing Canadian research and jobs for Liberal waste?

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Heath MacDonald

Liberal
“We are not cutting farm research. The federal government is keeping its 17 research sites across Canada, and work at the Indian Head centre will continue through 2027. We are doing better research with universities.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have been doing research in this country for 140 years through the federal government, and we are going to continue. There are 17 sites right across the country, with one in every province. Let me inform the hon. member that I am pleased to say that the operations of the seed increase unit will be continuing at the Indian Head research centre for the 2027 growing season, including forage and wheat. We are not doing less research. We are doing more precise research. We are doing more sustainable research. We are doing research with academia right across the country, and we are going to continue to do research for agriculture.

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