Co-operation between province, federal government on canola deal a positive sign, Sask. farmers say

Some farmers in Saskatchewan say they hope a new deal on canola tariffs struck with China following a visit by both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe this week will not only improve the market, but also signal a step away from western alienation. 

Doug Logan, who farms in the Gull Lake area of southwestern Saskatchewan, had record output for canola last year, but the state of the market made it seem like a lot less.

That's why he says he was "extremely happy" by the announcement of a deal Friday, under which Beijing is expected to drop canola seed duties to 15 per cent by March.

Canadian canola meal and peas will no longer be subject to Chinese "anti-discrimination" tariffs from March to at least the end of the year, officials said Friday.

In return, Canada, which imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in 2024, will allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the Canadian market each year, at a 6.1 per cent tariff.

There was no mention of canola oil on Friday.

"On my farm alone, it's going to be a huge impact," Logan said. "We've got a lot of canola acres going in this year."

Thirty-five per cent of Logan’s farm is canola and 40 per cent is durum wheat, which he says is a much less profitable crop in the current market. 

"It's frustrating for us in Western Canada, I won't lie — we do feel neglected out here," said Logan.

"It's a nice change to see a Liberal government that — so far — is maybe throwing a little optimism out this way," he said. "I'm cautiously optimistic."

Moe, who joined Carney on his visit to China, described the deal Friday as a "positive day" for Canada's agricultural industry, giving credit to the prime minister and other ministers for "engaging here in China."

Monty Reich, the CEO of South West Terminal — which provides grain marketing and crop input services in southwestern Saskatchewan — says it's refreshing to see the provincial and federal governments work together on a favourable agricultural deal.

"We can see this as definitely a marked improvement from where we were," said Reich.

"Any time we can improve market access for western Canadian farmers, I think it's a huge positive. This is the right step forward, for sure."