April 2, 2025

In October 2023, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) reduced federal funding to 4-H Canada from $1 million per year to $350,000. In December 2024, AAFC restored the full$1 million of federal funding to 4-H Canada, effective immediately. Restored funding will allow 4-H Canada to continue to invest in priorities such as digital modernization, strategic planning and staff retention, as well as flagship programs such as the 4-H Leadership Summit and Citizenship Congress.

The funding, which comes from Sustainable CAP, will be maintained through the 2025-26 fiscal year. There is optimism by 4-H Canada that funding will remain consistent until the conclusion of the Sustainable CAP framework in 2028. However, the ministry’s current understanding is that the restored funding is not permitted to go to provincial organizations, as was previously allowed. This was deemed by AAFC to be “double-dipping”, as provincial organizations (i.e., 4-H Saskatchewan) receive separate core funding under Sustainable CAP.

The ministry is a proud supporter of 4-H Saskatchewan and has committed more than $8 million in funding and in-kind resources since 2000. Currently, the ministry and 4-H Saskatchewan are engaged in a three-year agreement at $325,000 annually, funded through Sustainable CAP. Continuing to support 4-H Saskatchewan is important to the ministry, as developing industry leadership capacity supports building public trust in agriculture.

Daryl Harrison – Minister of Agriculture, Government of Saskatchewan