Weekly articles inform farmers about ag exchanges during question period
The return of Parliament also marks the return of Farms.com’s Ag in the House article series.
This weekly series is designed to keep members of the Canadian ag industry up to date about how often MPs discuss issues related to agriculture in the House of Commons during question period.
Question period occurs at 2pm ET between Monday and Thursday. On Fridays, MPs gather at 11:15am ET.
The pieces summarize the previous week’s exchanges using the hansard (record of debates).
On Sept. 22, Conservative Agriculture Critic John Barlow pointed highlighted high diesel prices facing farmers across Canada and asked the Liberals to adopt a Conservative idea.
“Why is the Prime Minister not taking up our Conservative plan and eliminating all taxes on gas and diesel so that farmers can afford to feed Canadians?” he asked.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald provided the government’s response.
Geopolitical issues are causing increased diesel prices, and the government is committed to supporting farmers and Canadians.
“We are doing everything we can,” he said. “We are reducing the excise tax. We are doing more with the groceries and essentials benefit. We will continue to advance Canadian agriculture and agri-food and make investments.”
On Sept. 23, a Conservative MP used the prime minister’s proposed idea to work with the U.S. on collaborative fertilizer independence – which would include potash – to show Prime Minister Carney has inconsistent messaging when it comes to the U.S.
Between calling President Trump the source of a global rupture, and this proposed fertilizer idea, Canadians are left in a grey area, said Shuvaloy Majumdar, the MP for Calgary Heritage.
“Forgive us, but can we just get some objective consistency from the Prime Minister, or is the pain of our people and the stagnation of our economy just politics?” he said.
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson responded.
He reminded the House that Canadian potash helps keep food affordable around the world.
On Sept. 24, opposition MPs challenged the government multiple times on the high price of diesel and its implications on the 2026 harvest season.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, for example, provided information from the environment department showing how the clean fuel standard is hurting Canadians’ bottom lines.
“Should the farmers who are actually out in the field believe the Prime Minister, or should they believe his own department documents, which show that this tax will cost them more?” he said.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne replied to Poilievre.
He told the House Bill C-38, The Canadian Fuel Affordability Act, will help Canadians.
“These are facts. This is not a parallel reality. This is going to help our farmers,” he said.
And John Barlow told the House the harvest budget for a farmer in Alberta has increased from $50,000 to $130,000.
“Will the Liberals accept the Conservative diesel price relief action plan today so farmers have access to the fuel they need to keep affordable food on the table?”
Minister MacDonald’s response to Barlow pointed at geopolitical issues as the reason for high diesel costs, and highlighted ag market access and investments.
Conservative pressure over diesel prices continued Sept. 25.
David Bexte, the MP for Bow River, told the House one combine can cost more than $1,100 per day to fuel.
“Why is the Liberal government making Canadian farmers pay so much for diesel just to bring in their harvest?” he said.
Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister, responded.
He told the House high diesel prices is why the government eliminated the excise tax on gas and diesel, and that more work is underway.
“We have a plan to help support farmers in the country,” he said.