Ontario Beekeepers Call on Federal Candidates to Address Industry Crisis & Protect Canada’s Food System

Guelph, ON –  As Canadians prepare to head to the polls in the upcoming federal election, the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association (OBA) is urging candidates and political parties to prioritize urgent action on the critical issues facing the beekeeping industry — an essential pillar of Canada’s food system.

Ontario’s beekeepers contribute nearly $900 million annually in pollination services, supporting over 30 of the province’s most important crops. Yet widespread colony losses in recent years caused by climate change, pests, and economic instability have pushed many beekeepers to the brink. “One-third of the food we eat is directly related to the pollination services of bees,” says Dr. Ernesto Guzman, Environmental Sciences Professor and Pinchin Family Chair in Bee Health at the University of Guelph. “Without pollinators, our food supply is at risk.”

In alignment with growing concern across the agriculture sector, the OBA echoes the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s (OFA) recent findings that farm businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressure. Rising costs, political uncertainty, and limited support for essential agricultural services are leading farmers to scale back investments — a trend that also threatens the sustainability of Canada’s beekeeping sector.

“As other farmers struggle, so do beekeepers. Our members are dealing with unsustainable winter losses and economic barriers that make it difficult to stay in business,” says Commercial Beekeeper, Jonathan Cucksey. “We need strong federal leadership to support the livelihoods of beekeepers, protect food security, and invest in the long-term sustainability of our pollinators.”

The OBA is calling on federal candidates to commit to four priority areas:

1. Support for Farm Business Competitiveness
   Beekeepers need access to risk management tools and sustainability programs that reflect the unique challenges of pollination-based agriculture.
2. Address Trade Issues
   The federal government must work to reduce interprovincial trade barriers for honey and hive products while also opening new international markets for Canadian honey under fair trade conditions.
3. Mitigate the Rising Cost of Agricultural Inputs
   The carbon tax increased costs across every part of food production, including transportation of hives and materials necessary for beekeeping. Reducing the carbon price to 0% has helped to manage input costs. The OBA hopes that future measures to mitigate climate change will consider their impact on agricultural input costs.
4. Ensure Consistent Access to Labour
   Beekeepers rely on seasonal and skilled labour. Canada needs a federal labour strategy that meets the workforce needs of the beekeeping and agri-food sectors.
5. Invest in Research & Extension
   Canada must invest in peer-reviewed, applied research focused on pests, diseases, and environmental stressors affecting bee health — and provide stable funding for long-term university research and expertise and the extension services needed to enable beekeepers to apply the research.

“We’re not just talking about bees — we’re talking about food, farms, and families,” says Cucksey. “Candidates need to be clear: how will they protect Canada’s pollinators and the farmers who depend on them?”

The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association urges all voters to ask their local candidates what they will do to support beekeepers and secure Canada’s food supply.