Fertilizer Canada says proposed legislation could improve supply chain reliability, expand infrastructure capacity, and help protect Canadian trade competitiveness.
Canada's fertilizer sector is throwing its support behind the federal government's proposed Building Canada Strong Act, saying the legislation could help strengthen the transportation and supply chain systems that are critical to agricultural trade.
Fertilizer Canada President and CEO Michael Bourque said the industry views reliable supply chains as essential to Canada's economic competitiveness and export success. The organization believes Bill C-39 contains several measures that could improve the movement of goods across the country while helping position Canada as a dependable trading partner in an increasingly uncertain global marketplace.
The federal government introduced Bill C-39, known as the Building Canada Strong Act, on September 21. The legislation is designed to accelerate project reviews, support infrastructure development, improve trade efficiency, modernize parts of the federal labour framework, and strengthen Canada's economic resilience. Read the article: Ag implications in first Liberal bill of the fall session.
The government says the bill aims to provide greater speed, certainty, and predictability for major projects.
For the fertilizer industry, those goals align closely with long-standing advocacy efforts focused on transportation reliability and infrastructure capacity.
Fertilizer Sector Depends on Efficient Transportation
Canada is one of the world's largest fertilizer exporters, shipping significant volumes of potash and other crop nutrients to international markets. As a result, the industry relies heavily on railways, ports, and other transportation networks to move products efficiently.
Bourque described the fertilizer sector as a major user of Canada's supply chain infrastructure and said industry leaders have consistently advocated for policies that reduce transportation bottlenecks and limit the risk of disruptions.
Among the provisions receiving support from Fertilizer Canada are measures intended to modernize transportation infrastructure, increase investment flexibility for Canadian Port Authorities, advance trade digitalization initiatives, and address constraints along critical trade corridors.
The industry is also encouraged by federal plans to formally designate strategic trade corridors. Stakeholders have argued that identifying and prioritizing these corridors could help focus investment on infrastructure that supports Canada's export economy.
Labour Reforms Receive Industry Support
Beyond transportation and infrastructure measures, Fertilizer Canada also pointed to proposed amendments to the Canada Labour Code as an important component of the legislation.
The organization supports provisions aimed at strengthening collective bargaining processes through longer timelines and the use of special mediators during disputes.
According to Bourque, predictable and timely dispute resolution is important not only for employers but also for workers and industries that depend on uninterrupted transportation services. Disruptions at ports, railways, or other federally regulated sectors can have ripple effects throughout agriculture and the broader economy.
Fertilizer Canada indicated it will continue advocating for additional mechanisms that would allow the federal government to intervene when labour disruptions threaten Canada's national economic interests.
Why It Matters for Farmers
While the legislation targets broad economic and infrastructure objectives, the effects could extend throughout the agriculture sector.
Farmers depend on reliable transportation systems to receive fertilizer and other crop inputs while also moving harvested crops to domestic and export markets. Delays or disruptions along rail corridors, at ports, or within logistics networks can increase costs and create uncertainty during critical planting and shipping periods.
Industry groups have long argued that improving transportation efficiency and reducing supply chain disruptions would strengthen Canada's position in global agricultural markets while supporting farm profitability.
As Bill C-39 moves through Parliament, Fertilizer Canada says it intends to continue working with government officials to advance measures that support stable, resilient supply chains and improve access to international markets.