QUESTION PERIOD — Agriculture and Agri-Food
Use of Farmland
February 5, 2026
Senator Moreau, Canada’s farmland is disappearing at an alarming rate. According to Census of Agriculture, between 2016 and 2021 alone, Canada lost 2,740 acres a day. There must be more federal programming to incentivize Canadians to save their farmland from development through farmland easement agreements, which protect land for farming.
Canada has an Ecological Gifts Program, or eco-gifts, that provide significant tax benefits to landowners donating ecologically sensitive land. Agricultural land does not qualify under eco-gifts, meaning an owner pays capital gains on the appreciation in values.
Various agricultural groups have called on the government to develop a similar program called “Agri-Gift” that would provide similar federal programs to facilitate the preservation of farmland.
Senator Moreau, the federal government must involve itself in the preservation of farmland for our country’s security and national security. Will your government consider an ecological gifts program?
Thank you, Senator Black, for asking the question. You know that I was born on a dairy farm, and I’m quite sensitive to any agricultural question that you might raise. I cannot speculate on any future government program or funding.
I’m sure you would agree that instead of encouraging farmers to give their land, we should encourage them to continue working the land for generations to come.
I know that this government is committed to seeing farm families succeed and will continue to work with producers to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of farm businesses.
Having said that, I will certainly raise your interest in creating an agricultural gift program with the minister.
Senator Moreau, I am worried that your government is not considering the urgency of this issue. Canadians for a Sustainable Society stress that only 3.2% of our land area can grow crops and only 4.2% of Canada’s land can be used for pasture land. We must preserve our country’s food sovereignty and food security before we lose our farmland. How will your government lead in preserving prime agricultural land before we realize it’s too late?
You know very well that agricultural land management is primarily a provincial jurisdiction. I think that one action that the government may take is to maintain a discussion with all provinces to ensure that those agricultural lands are protected.
This is the case in my province, Quebec. We know that the government takes strong action to protect agricultural land through the law.
