Reverse 665 AAFC staff cuts
Petitioners ask the Government to reverse cuts of 665 AAFC staff and stop closure of the Organic and Regenerative program at Swift Current and centres in Lacombe, Guelph, Quebec City, Indian Head, Scott, Portage la Prairie and Nappan. The government responds it will consolidate science to cut overhead while preserving research capacity and regional presence.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reversing the cuts would preserve 665 scientific, technical and support jobs petitioners say are essential for public plant breeding, ongoing research and farmers’ resilience.
- Keeping the Swift Current program and the named centres would protect long‑term public research infrastructure, equipment and specialized knowledge described as irreplaceable.
- Maintaining research presence across provinces supports regional studies on crops, animals and processing and helps ensure continuity for active projects.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The government says a Comprehensive Expenditure Review requires savings; reversing the cuts may conflict with fiscal constraints and broader budget priorities.
- AAFC states it will consolidate its science footprint to reduce overhead while preserving capacity and provincial presence, which could sustain key research without reverting closures.
- Critics can argue targeted consolidation or other restructuring could achieve savings while protecting critical projects, rather than fully reversing the decision.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada WHEREAS On January 23, 2026 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced plans to cut 665 positions, primarily scientific, technical and support staff carrying out agricultural research, and close 7 research facilities: the Lacombe, Guelph, and Quebec City Research and Development Centres and the Indian Head, Scott, Portage la Prairie, and Nappan Research Farms, as well as the Organic and Regenerative Research Program at the Swift Current R&D Center; AND WHEREAS The affected positions and facilities are essential to Canadian agriculture, representing an irreplaceable investment in facilities, equipment and highly educated personnel, an irreplaceable knowledge base, essential infrastructure for public plant breeding needed to address critical production challenges to provide ongoing success for farmers and our agricultural economy, and a strategic asset to safeguard Canada's ability to feed ourselves THEREFORE We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to reverse the planned cuts of 665 AAFC staff and closure of the Organic and Regenerative Research Program at Swift Current, and the Lacombe, Guelph, Quebec City, Indian Head, Scott, Portage la Prairie, and Nappan research facilities.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Signed by The Honourable Heath MacDonald, PC, MP Through the Comprehensive Expenditure Review exercise, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was required to identify savings over a three-year period. As a result, AAFC is strategically consolidating its science footprint to use its funds more efficiently in delivering impactful science to Canadian farmers, food processors, and others in the agriculture and agri-food sector. This strategic realignment and consolidation of science activities will allow for the reduction of overhead costs while preserving scientific capacity and maintaining a presence in every province. The Department will maintain its focus on areas of research such as horticulture and field crop production, animal production, food processing, and biodiversity. It will also continue to deliver science with the potential to accelerate innovations in the sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will continue to be Canada’s largest agricultural research organization, with 17 research centres and associated farmland across the country, maintaining a strong national footprint while addressing both regional and national priorities. Closing a research site involves a complex series of decisions that must be carefully worked through. The Department is engaging with research partners and collaborators on the future of active projects with a view to preserving research continuity, to the extent possible. AAFC’s commitment to science excellence and sector partnership has not changed and it will continue to invest in research and strengthen collaborations with industry groups, governments, universities and colleges, and other key stakeholders in Canada and internationally.