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The federal government’s new National Food Security Strategy, valued at roughly $3.2 billion over ten years, is one of the most significant food policy announcements in recent memory. It signals that Ottawa finally recognizes what Canadians have been experiencing for years: food affordability matters, supply chains matter, and domestic food production matters.

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The strategy contains several worthwhile initiatives.

Ottawa plans to invest $750 million over seven years in controlled-environment agriculture, including greenhouses and vertical farms. The objective is to grow more fruits and vegetables domestically and reduce Canada’s dependence on imports. This makes sense. Canadians currently rely on imports for most fresh produce, and with our dollar worth roughly 14% less than it was five years ago, reducing exposure to exchange-rate volatility is prudent.

The government is also committing $1 billion through Farm Credit Canada to support large-scale food processing projects. This addresses a longstanding weakness in Canada’s agri-food economy. Too often, we export raw commodities only to import value-added food products produced elsewhere. Expanding domestic processing capacity should be a national priority.

Another promising measure is the $1 billion earmarked for food........

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