January 27, 2026 – Recently, the canola industry responded to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Discussion Paper on proposed targeted amendments to the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR). The CFR amendments are part of support measures announced by the federal government in September 2025 to assist Canada’s canola industry, including the farmers who grow the crop.
The proposed amendments fail to include concrete proposals that will help secure additional domestic demand for canola as a biofuels feedstock, especially while the industry faces continued uncertainty in global markets. While canola is mentioned several times in the discussion paper as an important feedstock in domestic biofuel production, there are no specific provisions to support increased use of canola and other domestic feedstocks in the Canadian biofuels market. Additionally, concerns remain about potential compliance risks related to foreign used cooking oil (UCO).
Having a competitive domestic biofuel industry is important for canola’s market diversification strategy. While the proposed options in the paper are intended to support a competitive operating environment for Canadian biofuel producers, as written, they assume that any benefits resulting from the proposed amendments will automatically trickle down to farmers and the broader canola value chain. As feedstock suppliers, canola farmers and processors have been operating in a volatile marketplace. The targeted amendments can help level the competitive playing field and provide an opportunity to secure market demand for feedstocks such as canola here in Canada.
To meet the stated objective of assisting the canola industry through the CFR targeted amendments, the canola industry recommends the following:
Regulatory measures to support domestic biofuel production must include a condition that only fuels made from domestic or North American feedstock are eligible for these supports.
Regulatory measures must provide a strong market signal that expands domestic biofuel production volumes, resulting in increased demand for local feedstock.
Risks associated with fuels made from potentially fraudulent foreign UCO entering the Canadian clean fuels market must be addressed without delay.
Incorporating these elements into the design of the targeted amendments will be critical to ensuring canola is a preferred feedstock right here in our own backyard.
The canola industry looks forward to working with the federal government on the details of the targeted amendments and encourages an expedited regulatory process regarding its development and implementation.
The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. The CCC’s mission is to facilitate market access and strategic development and enable industry innovation to grow the value and profitability of Canadian canola. For more information, visit canolacouncil.org.
Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) represents canola farmers on national and international issues, policies, and programs that impact farm profitability and has been an administrator of the Government of Canada’s Advance Payments Program since 1984. For more information, visit ccga.ca.
The Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) is a federally incorporated non-profit industry association that works in partnership with the Canola Council of Canada to represent the interests of oilseed processors in Canada.
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SaskOilseeds is a core funder of CCC & a member of CCGA.
Media may contact:
Heidi Dancho
Director, Communications
Canola Council of Canada
danchoh@canolacouncil.org
Kelly Green
Vice-President, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
communications@ccga.ca