Statement from Minister Laking on the 2026 Ministers of Agriculture meeting

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ted Laking has issued the following statement:

“Food security is northern resilience.

“Yukon farmers and producers work hard to grow food in some of the most challenging conditions in Canada. They face barriers unseen by southern producers, including our remote location and high costs and a short growing season.

“That is why the Yukon government strongly advocated at the meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture last week in Halifax for the next national agricultural policy framework to recognize these realities and address the barriers facing small and northern farms.

“I am pleased that the final meeting outcomes recognize the importance of supporting different scales and models in agriculture businesses, responding to evolving producer needs and considering the impacts of programs on small and northern farms.

“There is more work to do. We must continue looking at barriers facing small and northern producers, including how we can increase access to national programs for Yukon farmers. We will work together with the federal government to find practical solutions.

“Supporting the Yukon’s farmers is about more than agriculture. It is about strengthening our food security, building northern resilience and ensuring that Yukoners have more opportunities to produce food here at home.

“The Yukon government will continue to advocate for policies that reflect the realities producers face and support the growth and stability of the Yukon’s agriculture sector.”