August 12, 2025 (OTTAWA) – Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC), the national industry association representing Canada’s domestic food and beverage manufacturers, has presented its recommendations for Federal Budget 2025, and is calling for urgent action to strengthen Canada’s largest manufacturing industry and safeguard the country’s food system. 

FBC-ABC’s submission, developed in consultation with its members and provincial and regional association partners, outlines four key recommendations: 

1. Convene a National Agri-Food Regulatory Modernization Summit and launch a “reverse burden of proof” process to eliminate outdated, duplicative, and misaligned regulations that hinder competitiveness without improving food safety or consumer protection. 

2. Secure Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing workforce through immediate work permit extensions, permanent residency pathways, and the creation of a sector-specific foreign labour program. 

3. Boost competitiveness through tax policy changes, including accelerated Capital Cost Allowance and targeted credits for automation, modernization, and productivity. 

4. Launch a Domestic Processing Fund, with an immediate $200 million investment and a long-term commitment of $2 billion over five years, to catalyze modernization and capacity expansion. 

“As the largest manufacturing employer in the country, our industry is the backbone of Canada’s food security, economic resilience, and export success,” said Kristina Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of Food and Beverage Canada. “With 80% of our agri-food exports going to the U.S. and an evolving global trade landscape, the federal government must ensure our food and beverage manufacturers have the supports they need to compete, grow, and innovate here at home.” 

Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing industry employs over 322,000 Canadians, generates almost $120 billion in annual revenue, and purchases more than half of the country’s agriculture output. FBC-ABC stresses that addressing chronic labour shortages, modernization regulations, and addressing infrastructure investment gaps are critical to meeting domestic demand and expanding in key international markets, including the Indo-Pacific.  

“Our recommendations are not just about growing our industry – they’re about protecting Canada’s ability to feed itself, respond to supply chain disruptions, and remain a trusted supplier to the world,” said Mike Bannister, President of Atlantic Poultry Inc., and Chair of FBC-ABC.

The full submission can be found here. 

Contact: 
Kristina Farrell 
Chief Executive Officer 
Food and Beverage Canada 
kristina.farrell@fbc-abc.com