U.S. – Canada trade deal could be on horizon: MLA Hunter

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Trevor Busch
Sunny South News
editor@tabertimes.com

Ag producers in the region are so far anticipating a good growing season as the area transitions to midsummer.

“Big difference between dry farming and irrigation land,” said Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter in terms of how the region’s crops are progressing. “But the irrigators are happy. Looks like we’ve got SMRID – which is the vast majority of my riding – are all on stream and offstream storage looks like it’s where they should be. So we’re quite happy about that.”

Recent timely rains across the region are temporarily alleviating concerns about drought.

“I don’t know if it was a million dollar rain, but it was really an excellent rain. So I think that was really, really helpful. I did talk to some farmers in some some areas of my riding, they didn’t get as much, and that really hot May was not helpful. I can’t say for everybody it’s going to be great, but so far, it’s looking good,” said Hunter.

Tariff and trade war concerns regarding the ag sector are still palpable amongst regional producers, but Hunter – who also serves as Associate Minister of Water and Chief Government Whip – sees some light on the horizon in recent negotiations between Canada and the U.S.

“I would say that it’s a valid concern. I mean, you never know what President Trump is going to do next. And so that is just a valid concern. I just think that they’re moving quite quickly on trying to get a new deal with the states – Carney has indicated that he wants to move as quickly as possible on that, and Trump has, too. So I think that’s really what it’s all about. As President Trump has said, ‘Look, we want deals,’ and so he’s trying to force those deals, and sometimes he does it in a very bombastic way that does irritate his partners, neighbouring jurisdictions like ours. But generally speaking, I think that the dialogue has gotten a whole lot better since Prime Minister Trudeau has been out, and hopefully we don’t have the hiccups that we’ve had.”