Agriculture Canada reduces diversity, equity and inclusion funding

Agriculture Canada has quietly cut funding to programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion.

The cuts are minimal, but in 2025, the department employed the equivalent of eight full-time people to work on Gender Based Analysis Plus.

Known as GBA Plus, it ensures that Agriculture Canada provides programs and services to a more diverse swath of Canadians, including “under-represented and marginalized” people.

WHY IT MATTERS: Agriculture Canada cut its budget by about 15 per cent in 2026, closing research stations and slashing more than 600 jobs. It also made cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, but by how much?

In 2026, Agriculture Canada eliminated some of its GBA Plus jobs.

“Like other departments … Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was asked to identify savings to reduce costs,” said a department spokesperson.

“As such, resources dedicated to GBA Plus in 2026-27, including (the) GBA Plus Responsibility Centre, and employees in other branches, are operating at a reduced capacity.”