Overview of the Promise

During his campaign for prime minister, Mark Carney pledged to make permanent the doubling of revenue protection under the AgriStability Program, increasing the maximum payment cap from $3 million to $6 million per farm. This change was intended to provide enhanced support for farmers experiencing significant revenue drops due to tariffs, extreme weather events, and other external shocks.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since taking office in early 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has moved forward with enhancements to the AgriStability Program. In March 2025, federal and provincial agriculture ministers agreed to implement changes for the 2025 program year, including doubling the payment cap to $6 million. This adjustment aims to offer greater financial stability to farmers amid challenges like U.S. tariffs and climate-related disruptions. Official announcements from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada confirmed these updates, with extensions to enrollment deadlines to facilitate broader participation.

Further, in July 2025, multiple provinces, including Saskatchewan and British Columbia, announced province-specific implementations of these federal changes, emphasizing increased compensation rates and higher caps to address revenue losses from droughts and trade tensions. The government has framed these enhancements as a direct response to external shocks, aligning with the promise's focus on tariffs and weather events.

Legislation and Program Changes

AgriStability is a joint federal-provincial-territorial program, and changes do not require new standalone legislation but are enacted through ministerial agreements and program guideline updates. In 2025, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald, along with provincial counterparts, approved the doubled cap as a permanent feature of the program, as outlined in official releases. No formal bill was passed in Parliament for this specific change, but it has been integrated into the program's framework for ongoing years, with confirmations of its application extending into 2026 and beyond.

Addressing Key Points of the Promise

The promise specifically targeted doubling the revenue protection from $3 million to $6 million per farm, which has been achieved through the announced program enhancements. It also emphasized protection against significant revenue drops from tariffs, extreme weather, and other shocks, which the updates directly address by increasing support for affected producers. Government communications highlight these elements, noting the permanence of the change to ensure long-term stability for the agricultural sector.

Overall Status

This promise is kept.