Faced with both a trade war and annexation threats, Canada must confront whether its domestic food systems can feed its population in a crisis.

Authors:

  • Karen Foster | Associate Professor, Sociology and Social Anthropology and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Rural Futures for Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University

  • Alicia Martin | Postdoctoral Fellow, Common Ground Canada Network, Dalhousie University

  • Gavin Fridell | Professor of Political Science and Global Development Studies, Saint Mary’s University

  • Kathleen Kevany | Professor, Sustainable Food Systems, Dalhousie University

Rising tensions between Canada and the United States have made increased military investment and a renewed focus on national defence all but inevitable.

A recent Angus Reid poll found three in four Canadians want to see the country’s military strengthened in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada as the 51st state. In early March, former prime minister Justin Trudeau committed publicly to increasing military spending.

While it makes sense for a country feeling vulnerable to invasion to look at recruiting new soldiers and increasing its arsenal, there is an additional facet of national defence that is too often overlooked: food preparedness.

Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs are already “stoking a new nationalism” in Canadians and sparking interest in buying local, but food should be part of the national defence conversation, too.

  • Perhapsjustsniffit
    13·
    22 hours ago

    Absolutely it should. We grow a lot of our own and sell small amounts but even supplies to do so are being limited somewhat because many products come from US manufacturers. Massive scale farms will be severely affected by this with everything from tractors to seed. Increasing farms and reclaiming farmland from foreign ownership will also be necessary. Diversifying crops and animal rotations. Learning new ways that are more in line with environmental concerns and that will consume less energy and consumables. So many things to tackle and the perfect opportunity to do so.