Kody Blois – Liberal Party of Canada
Mark Carney appointed Blois as minister of agriculture and rural economic development in his cabinet prior to the election call.
In the days leading to the writ drop, Blois kept Canadians up to speed about his vision for AAFC, how the CFIA can support the ministry’s work, and met with industry stakeholders.
Blois has represented Kings-Hands in Nova Scotia since 2019.
John Barlow – Conservative Party of Canada
Barlow, who has represented the Alberta riding of Foothills since 2015, has been the party’s agriculture critic since 2019.
During the last session of Parliament, he introduced Bill C-275 to make it an offence for a person to enter a livestock operation without permission.
The bill passed the report stage in the Senate in December 2024 but did not make it to third reading.
Heather Ray – NDP
Ray is the NDP’s candidate in Peterborough, Ont.
She is a fifth-generation farmer raising sheep, an introductory letter says.
Ray co-owns Oakn’LiefFarm, and from November 2022 to December 2023 was the executive director of Farms At Work.
She has a master’s degree in international public policy and a bachelor’s degree in environmental resource studies. She also has a diploma in environmental impact assessment, and a minor in legal studies in criminology.
Yves Perron – Bloc Quebecois
Representing the Quebec riding of Berthier-Maskinongé since 2019, Perron has been the critic of agriculture, agri-food and supply management since 2021.
During the last session of Parliament, Perron pressured the government to pass Bill C-282 in its original form to protect supply management in all trade deals.
Amendments called for supply management to only be protected in new trade agreements.
The bill didn’t receive royal assent.
Perron also supported Bill C-280, which establishes a deemed trust mechanism for fresh produce growers and sellers.
That bill received royal assent on Dec. 12, 2024.
Dr. Maria Rodriguez – Green Party of Canada
Dr. Rodriguez is running in Cardigan, the P.E.I. riding held by longtime MP and retiring minister of agriculture Lawrence MacAulay.
She worked in AAFC’s crops and livestock research centre in Charlottetown and has multiple years of experience in ag.
“Over the years, she has had the unique opportunity to examine food systems from multiple perspectives: as a farmer, advocate, teacher, researcher, regulator, policy analyst, specialist in international trade and bilateral relations, and manager of research and innovation,” her party bio says.