Overview of the Promise

During his campaign for prime minister, Mark Carney pledged to double the loan guarantee limit of the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program from $500,000 to $1 million and expand the loan terms to 20 years. This measure was intended to support the next generation of young farmers by making it easier to purchase land, construct or improve farm infrastructure, buy or repair equipment, and undertake other essential investments to start or expand their operations.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

As of August 28, 2025, there is no evidence that the Carney government has taken concrete steps to implement this promise. Official government websites and program guides for the CALA Program continue to list the maximum loan guarantee at $500,000, with no updates indicating a doubling to $1 million or an extension of terms to 20 years. The program, administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, remains focused on providing loan guarantees to farmers and agricultural cooperatives for farm establishment, improvement, and development, but without the proposed enhancements.

Related Legislation and Proposals

No specific legislation has been proposed or passed under Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration to amend the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act in line with this promise. While there have been adjustments to other agricultural support programs, such as increases to the interest-free limit of the Advance Payments Program to $250,000 for the 2025 program year, these do not pertain to the CALA Program. Similarly, provincial initiatives, like Alberta's increase in its Feeder Association Loan Guarantee Program limit to $225 million, are separate from the federal CALA framework and do not fulfill the national promise.

Progress on Specific Promise Elements

The promise includes two key elements: doubling the loan guarantee limit to $1 million and expanding terms to 20 years. Neither element has been addressed. For young farmers, the current $500,000 limit may still constrain access to funding for land purchases or major infrastructure projects, and loan terms have not been extended, limiting long-term financing options. Without these changes, the intended outcomes—such as facilitating farm startups and equipment investments—remain unachieved at the federal level.

Potential Path Forward

Since no actions have been initiated, this promise is currently not started. To move toward fulfillment, the government would need to introduce amendments to the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act through parliamentary legislation, secure approval, and update program guidelines accordingly. If no progress is made by the end of the fiscal year or if the government explicitly abandons the pledge, it could be considered at risk of being broken.

Overall Status

This promise is not started.