The federal government is currently deciding how billions of taxpayer dollars will be spent on agriculture over the next five years—and Canadians have a chance to weigh in.
While most people have never heard of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), its policy decisions shape Canada’s food system. This framework heavily impacts agricultural funding across Canada, influencing everything from direct support for farmers to investments in animal welfare, sustainability, and innovation.
The current SCAP agreement expires in March 2028, and governments are now actively developing the Next Policy Framework (2028–2033) as its replacement. As part of that process, they’re asking Canadians which priorities should guide the next five years of agricultural funding.
This public consultation gives Canadians an opportunity to advocate for a food system that reflects true public interest—not just corporate industry priorities.
What is SCAP and How Does It Use Agricultural Funding?
The SCAP is a five-year, $3.5 billion agreement between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. Ultimately, it dictates how agricultural funding and programming flow into Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
Currently, SCAP is built around five priority areas:
- Building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness
- Climate change and environment
- Science, research and innovation
- Market development and trade
- Resiliency and Public Trust
While several of these priorities support legitimate initiatives, the inclusion of “Public Trust” as a funding priority raises significant concerns.
Why the “Public Trust” Priority Misuses Agricultural Funding
The “Public Trust” priority was first added to Canada’s agricultural policy framework in 2018. On the surface, building public trust sounds like a reasonable goal. But in practice, this agricultural funding has increasingly been used to finance industry-led marketing campaigns, public relations initiatives, and voluntary assurance programs that are run by industry groups, are independently audited, and rely on self-regulation rather than independent enforcement authority. These initiatives merely boost the animal agriculture industry’s image instead of addressing systemic cruelty.
At the same time, Canada’s farmed animal welfare system still relies on voluntary, industry-led standards. The system suffers from a lack of government oversight or legal enforcement. Rather than investing agricultural funding into stronger protections for farmed animals, the government funnels public money into promoting existing, harmful agricultural practices.
This approach misses the mark. Public funding should solve the issues Canadians care about—not simply improve the public perception of the animal agriculture industry.
Instead of funding marketing and public relations, Canadian officials must redirect agricultural funding toward meaningful improvements for farmed animal welfare. For example, Canada needs stronger legal standards, independent oversight, strict enforcement, and greater transparency. Additionally, funding should help forward-thinking Canadian farmers transition away from intensive confinement models and toward high-welfare or plant-based production systems.
A New Vision for Canadian Agricultural Funding
The Next Policy Framework needs to better reflect the public interest by investing in real, measurable improvements to Canada’s food system. The 2028-2033 agreement should prioritize:
- Measurable Welfare Upgrades: Directing agricultural funding toward strict animal welfare oversight, transparency, and legal compliance.
- Transition Support: Helping Canadian farmers transition smoothly to higher-welfare practices, plant-based agriculture, and sustainable food production.
- Redefining Trust: Eliminating—or completely restructuring—the “Public Trust” priority so it funds actual animal care rather than industry marketing and public relations.
- Democratic Input: Ensuring future agricultural frameworks center the interests of the public and independent farmers.
Have Your Say: Protect Animals in Canada
The federal government is accepting public feedback on the Next Policy Framework until June 30.
Consultations like this help shape government priorities, and it’s important that decision-makers hear from people who want public funding to support meaningful improvements for animals—not just the agriculture industry’s perspective.
You can take action by completing the official public survey or by emailing your comments to [email protected].
Every individual submission helps prove that Canadians want federal and provincial agricultural funding to protect animal lives through meaningful action—not clever marketing.
The decisions made through the Next Policy Framework will shape Canada’s food system and the welfare of animals raised and killed for food for years to come. Now is the time to speak up.
