Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – With the threat of U.S. tariffs hanging over Canada like the sword of Damocles, Alberta’s commodity groups including Alberta Canola are coordinating efforts to advocate against, and prepare for, tariffs.

Roger Chevraux, Alberta Canola Region 11 director, says they’re working behind the scenes, contacting U.S. governors, senators, and representatives to emphasize the importance of the two countries’ relationship regarding food.

“We’re a big customer of their production, and they’re a big customer of our production,” Chevraux noted. “Food is important. If you put a tariff on it, it’s going to cost your consumers a whole lot of money, and you’re going to have to explain to them why the cost of food is going up.”

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Chevraux says food insecurity should be a focus for our governments when discussing tariffs with our U.S. counterparts.

“We’ve been concentrating on the energy market which is a vital part of it, but you only fill up your car once or twice a week,” he says. “You feed your family three times a day. So, food inflation is a really key issue.”

U.S. President Donald Trump says his government could impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico as early as February 1st. John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Security in Ottawa, has previously said the effects of tariffs will be profound, accounting for a possible three percent hit to Canada’s GDP.

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