MEDIA RELEASE – National Citizens Inquiry Hearings: High River, Alberta, August 18–20,
2026
Are Farmers Safe in Canada?
Farmers, ranchers, food producers, experts and affected Canadians are invited to present sworn testimony examining the pressures facing Canadian agriculture and food security
High River, Alberta – August 18–20, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026
NATIONAL – The National Citizens Inquiry will convene in High River, Alberta, from August18 to 20, 2026, for three days of public hearings examining a question of growing national importance: Are Farmers Safe in Canada?
The High River hearings will continue and expand upon the testimony received during the NCI’s Agriculture and Food Security hearings held in Kelowna, British Columbia, in March 2026.
Farmers, ranchers, researchers, veterinarians, food producers, agricultural professionals, policy experts and affected Canadians are invited to present evidence under oath concerning the policies, regulations and economic pressures shaping the future of Canadian agriculture and the national food system.
The hearings will examine issues including:
• The rising cost of farming and food production
• Agricultural regulation and government policy
• Supply management and dairy policy
• Market access and interprovincial trade barriers
• Farm consolidation and the future of independent farming
• Livestock health, veterinary medicine and biosecurity
• Food safety and public health oversight
• Hunting, wildlife management and access to traditional food sources
• Food affordability, availability and national food security
• The loss and conversion of agricultural land
• The expansion of industrial and infrastructure projects, including large data centers, onto productive farmland
• Federal, provincial and municipal decision-making affecting agriculture
• The resilience and future of rural communities
The NCI is also inviting elected representatives, public officials, regulators, industry organizations and institutional representatives to participate and present testimony concerning the policies and decisions within their areas of responsibility.
Canadians with relevant firsthand experience, professional knowledge, research or evidence are encouraged to apply to testify.
For information about applying to testify, please contact:
Participation may be available either in person or virtually. Preference will be given to in-person testimony where possible.
“Canada’s farmers and ranchers carry an extraordinary responsibility. They feed our families, sustain our communities and contribute directly to the security and independence of our country,” said Ted Kuntz, Chair of the National Citizens Inquiry.
“These hearings will provide Canadians with an opportunity to hear directly from the people who produce our food and from those with knowledge of the policies and pressures affecting agriculture. Their testimony will become part of an independent public record that can help guide
future decisions.”
The National Citizens Inquiry believes that respectful public dialogue grounded in firsthand experience, evidence and open questioning is essential to understanding the challenges facing Canadian agriculture.
The High River hearings will preserve testimony that might otherwise never become part of the public record and will allow independent commissioners to examine the broader implications for farmers, consumers, rural communities and Canada’s food supply.
High River, Alberta – August 18–20, 2026
The hearings will be conducted in English each day from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, with a one-hour dinner recess from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The names of private citizens testifying will be made available during the hearings.The NCI hearings will be broadcast live on the NCI website at:
https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/live/
The hearings will also be broadcast through the NCI’s social media channels:
Rumble:
https://rumble.com/user/ncicanada
X:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NationalCitizensInquiryCanada
Members of the public wishing to attend the hearings in person are asked to register for each day and time slot they plan to attend through the event page:
https://events.humanitix.com/are-farmers-safe-in-canada-high-river-alberta
Members of the media wishing to attend in person are also asked to register for each day and time slot during which they expect to be present:
https://events.humanitix.com/are-farmers-safe-in-canada-high-river-alberta
Media representatives will be asked to provide identification to NCI volunteers upon arrival. Prior notification of attendance to [email protected] will assist the NCI in planning for media access and assuring seating.
The National Citizens Inquiry is a Canada-wide, citizen-led and citizen-funded initiative, independent of government and political influence.
Through questioning led by lawyers, individual Canadians and experts present evidence under oath before independent commissioners. The testimony is preserved as part of a permanent public record, and the commissioners subsequently issue findings and recommendations based upon the evidence received.
The NCI Commissioners’ Reports can be downloaded free of charge at:
https://nationalcitizensinquiry.ca/commissioners-report/
For media inquiries, email:
