CBC Archives

Canada is one of the world’s most important agricultural suppliers, exporting products to the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Canadian exports as a ratio of total farming are more than twice that of United States and European farmers, which means that Canadian farmers export far more products than their counterparts in other countries. As a result, agriculture is an important part of international business for Canada.

The proportion of the Canadian population and GDP devoted to agriculture fell dramatically during the 20th century, which is common among developed countries. However, farming still plays a vital role in Canada’s prosperity. For instance, in 2004, primary agriculture accounted for 1.8% of Canada’s total employment, and 1.3% of Canada’s GDP. The level of agricultural activity varies from province to province. The prairie provinces produce wheat and other grains, and most agricultural business is located in central Canada. However, dairy and poultry farmers are distributed across the country. Because Canadian farmers lack government subsidies, many rely on tariffs to limit the amount of agricultural imports, thereby ensuring that they can compete in the market.

Review the concepts of revenue, income, net income, and GDP with students.

Students will research and write an article for a business magazine about the impact of farming on Canada’s economy. They will work in pairs and use computer software to create an appropriate layout for their article.

Display the articles, have students read them aloud, or have students exchange articles with other groups to read one another’s work. You might also want to compile all articles into a class business magazine with a special-issue focus on farming.

As a class, discuss students’ opinions on the impact of farming on the Canadian economy.