Kody Blois is headed back to Ottawa after securing re-election — and he’s bringing a renewed sense of urgency to his role as Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development.
Blois has officially secured his third consecutive election victory. The Nova Scotia MP was re-elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants in yesterday’s election.
In the wake of a fiercely competitive campaign that culminated in the recent ag leaders debate hosted by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture on April 17, Blois wasted no time reinforcing his commitment to farmers, ranchers, and the entire agri-food sector. Speaking during the debate, he made it clear that under his watch, agriculture will not take a back seat — it will drive Canada’s broader economic strategy.
“We are living in a very uncertain world, and this is a crucial moment for Canada,” Blois said. “Under the leadership of Mark Carney as our prime minister, we will not only have the best plan to hold the country together but the strongest plan to help drive agriculture forward.”
Blois, who was first appointed agriculture minister earlier this year, pointed to several pillars of his agenda: boosting domestic processing, slashing regulatory red tape, strengthening business risk management programs, and expanding market access at home and abroad.
Concrete Investments in Processing and Trade
A cornerstone of Blois’s plan is building more capacity at home, he said. His government is committing $200 million toward a Domestic Processing Fund to strengthen Canada’s agri-food infrastructure.
“We are the only party standing here today with six concrete priorities for agriculture,” Blois said. “And $200 million is just a start. We know there needs to be more domestic agri-food capacity.”
Trade infrastructure is also front and centre. Blois highlighted a $5 billion pledge toward Canada’s strategic ports, a move he says is crucial to helping Canadian farmers and food exporters stay competitive globally.
“We know Canada feeds the world — but it’s not enough to have theoretical market access,” he said. “We need boots on the ground to tackle non-tariff trade barriers and regulatory challenges.”
Red Tape Reduction a Top Priority
Blois has also made cutting red tape a personal mission. In one of his first acts as ag minister, he directed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to adopt nine immediate measures to streamline regulatory processes.
“We need a CFIA that facilitates, not frustrates,” he emphasized. “An economic and food security lens will be placed on every decision moving forward.”
He acknowledged the importance of maintaining Canada’s world-class food safety standards, but stressed that innovation and competitiveness must not be strangled by bureaucracy.
Business Risk Management: Building Back Stronger
Blois also took aim at previous Conservative government cuts to business risk management programs, vowing to continue rebuilding support for farmers.
“Our government reinvested in AgriStability, removing the reference margin limit and increasing the compensation rate to 80%,” Blois noted. “And if re-elected, we’re committing to moving that to 90% permanently — with a cap increase from $3 million to $6 million.”
He emphasized that timely, flexible programs must be part of the future, particularly as farmers face greater volatility from global markets and climate change.
Innovation: Catalyzing Private Investment
Beyond government funding, Blois made it clear he wants Canada to follow successful global models by encouraging more private sector investment into agriculture and food innovation.
“We’re trailing the U.S. and Europe when it comes to agri-food investment,” he said. “It’s time to create the environment that attracts venture capital and builds domestic processing strength.”
Drawing on examples from the Netherlands, Blois proposed public-private partnership models where modest government co-investments can unlock larger streams of private capital.
Trade Diversification and Interprovincial Access
On trade, Blois stressed the urgency of diversifying Canada’s markets, citing major opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region and ongoing work with Mexico and Europe. He also celebrated the upcoming removal of interprovincial trade barriers — a step he says will boost Canada’s internal market for agri-food products.
“Good news: our premiers and Prime Minister have agreed to remove interprovincial barriers by July 1,” he said. “That’s real progress for Canadian farmers.”
As he looks to his next term, Blois’s message to farmers during the debate was simple: the work has already started, and there’s more to come.
“This is a foundational pillar of our growth strategy,” he said. “Agriculture isn’t just about supporting farmers — it’s about driving the strongest and fastest-growing economy in the G7.”
