City of Lacombe and Lacombe County welcome Standing Committee Report calling for pause and reversal of Research Centre Closures

The Lacombe Research and Development Centre Closure Response Task Force is welcoming the release of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri Food report, Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres, which includes a clear recommendation to pause and reverse proposed closures of federal agricultural research facilities, including the Lacombe Research and Development Centre (LRDC).

The Standing Committee’s findings reflect extensive testimony heard from municipalities, researchers, industry partners, and provincial representatives, including evidence provided by Mayor Thalia Hibbs, Reeve John Ireland, and Western Crop Innovations research scientist Lori Oatway.

At the core of the report, Recommendation 19 calls on the Government of Canada to pause and reverse the decision to close agricultural research centres and experimental farms, and to initiate immediate consultations with affected employees, local and provincial governments, research partners, public sector unions, and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor to better understand the scientific and economic impacts of the proposed closures.

"This report reinforces what we have consistently raised throughout this process,” said Mayor Thalia Hibbs. “The Lacombe Research and Development Centre is a critical agricultural research asset that benefits producers across Canada. We are encouraged by the Standing Committee’s recognition of regionally based research and the need for meaningful consultation, and we remain committed to working with partners to ensure this work continues in Lacombe.”

In addition to Recommendation 19, which calls for a pause and reversal of proposed closures and the launch of a formal consultation process, the Standing Committee’s report includes broader recommendations that reflect many of the concerns raised by the Joint Task Force, such as: 

• meaningful consultation, 
• continuity of research and long term datasets, 
• transparency in decision making, and 
• the importance of regionally based agricultural research that cannot be relocated without loss of value.

Taken together, these recommendations reinforce concerns that decisions made without adequate engagement and planning risk permanent loss of scientific capacity and nationally significant land based research.

“Agricultural research depends on continuity, regional expertise, and long term investment,” said Lacombe County Reeve John Ireland. “The Standing Committee has clearly acknowledged that once research capacity like this is dismantled, it cannot simply be turned back on somewhere else. We appreciate that this report recognizes the national importance of centres like Lacombe and the need to slow down, engage properly, and make informed decisions that protect Canada’s agricultural future.”

While the Standing Committee’s recommendations are an important, positive step forward, they do not determine the final outcome. The federal government has been asked to formally respond, and records from the review meetings have been submitted as part of the process.

The Joint Task Force remains united in its position that the LRDC is a nationally significant research asset delivering active, high value applied research today. The municipalities continue to advocate for a full reversal of the closure decision and a collaborative path forward that preserves research capacity, supports employees and families, and protects long term value for Canadian producers and food systems.

Next Steps

In response to the Standing Committee’s report, the Joint Task Force is calling for:

• Minister-level engagement with municipal leaders and regional partners; and
• A formal consultation process, as outlined in Recommendation 19, involving municipalities, researchers, employees, provinces, and industry partners.

The City and County – as part of the Joint Task Force – will continue coordinated advocacy and will provide updates as the federal government responds to the Committee’s recommendations. 

The public can read the full report on the House of Commons website or on these websites
-    www.lacombe.ca/LRDC 
-    www.lacombecounty.com/LRDC