The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association was part of a roundtable meeting during Canadian Western Agribition last week with other cattle groups to talk to Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

Vice-Chair of the Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-Chair of Canada Beef Chad Ross was in the meeting and felt it was good overall. “Mr. MacAulay is very receptive to our industry here in Saskatchewan and he’s appreciative of Agribition and all that goes on here and it was great as we had the board room overlooking the cattle here at Agribition so it was really scenic as well.” said Ross.

During the meeting, Ross mentioned his trip to Japan and South Korea as part of a trade mission where he heard concerns about sustainability in Canada’s supply chain, particularly with the strikes that have happened this year involving workers at CPKC and CN Rail, the ports in B.C. and Montreal, and a Cargill meat plant in Guelph, Ontario. MacAulay’s response, according to Ross, was understanding the gravity of the situation. “He heard what I was saying and that we got to be firm on these labour issues that they cannot impede trade because these other countries will go to, for example, the U.S. where they know they can get the supply and so we can’t have our trade disrupted, so he’s got to be firm with these issues.” Ross added.

Trade with the United States was another topic covered in the meeting, especially the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods President-Elect Donald Trump has mentioned he would implement if Canada doesn’t address drugs and people coming over the border illegally. Ross said trade with the U.S. is extremely important to not only Saskatchewan but Canada as well. In 2023, U.S.-Canada agriculture and agri-food trade was valued at $72.6 billion, including $3.6 billion in beef and pork exports to the United States, according to stats from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

“We’re watching it very close, our federal (ag) minister acknowledged that and they’re going to do whatever they can to make sure that they can help us out, as well as our provincial government too, we’ve been in contact with them and they are going to be working hard for us as well.”

It was also at the meeting that MacAulay noted a $5.4 million investment from Ottawa for five projects that would support, among other things, improved market access, helping producers adopt more sustainable practices, and promoting Canada’s reputation as a leader in top-quality beef production.