Canadian municipalities support resolution to keep Lacombe Research Centre open

Published 2:18 pm Wednesday, June 10, 2026

The resolution for the Government of Canada to reverse the proposed closure of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre has passed with 98 per cent support from communities across the country.

The resolution calls on the Government of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to halt the closures of the research facilities and work collaboratively with municipalities, provinces, industry, and Indigenous partners to develop a strengthened National Agricultural Research Strategy.

The City of Lacombe and Lacombe County recently presented the joint resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Convention in Edmonton.

Municipal leaders from across Canada spoke in favour of the resolution, including Councillor Fred Gould of Nova Scotia, Councillor Joe Masi of Manitoba, and Councillor Bill Huber of Saskatchewan.

Municipal leaders from across Canada spoke in favour of the resolution, including Councillor Fred Gould from Nova Scotia, Councillor Joe Masi from Manitoba, and Councillor Bill Huber from Saskatchewan.

This is a unified message from municipalities nationwide, Lacombe Mayor Thalia Hibbs said.

“Communities from coast to coast to coast have recognized the critical importance of protecting Canada’s agricultural research capacity. We are incredibly proud to see such strong backing for this issue.”

The resolution highlights the importance of federal agricultural research centres that support food security, climate resilience, innovation and economic stability.

Maintaining research facilities like the Lacombe Research Centre is extremely important, Hibbs said.

“At a time of global uncertainty, trade disruptions, food security concerns, and climate pressures, maintaining Canada’s agricultural research capacity is more important than ever. The work conducted at these centres helps ensure Canadians continue to have access to a safe, reliable, and affordable food supply.”

The cross-country support shows the issue extends far beyond Lacombe and Lacombe County.

“This response highlights that this is bigger than any one community or region,” County Reeve John Ireland said.

“These research centres are part of a national system that supports producers, municipalities, and industries across Canada. When locations are reduced or local data is replaced with information from regions with very different growing conditions, the strength of that entire system is diminished.”

Lacombe County and the City of Lacombe are hoping the federal government is listening closely to the strong consensus expressed by municipalities.

“We are hopeful that Ottawa will take this clear signal seriously. Municipal voices have spoken decisively: protecting agricultural research infrastructure is essential to Canada’s future,” Hibbs said.

The City of Lacombe and Lacombe County will continue advocating for strong, sustainable agricultural research across Canada through the joint Task Force.

More information on the Task Force’s advocacy efforts can be found on the City of Lacombe or Lacombe County websites, www.lacombecounty.com/LRDC or www.lacombe.ca/LRDC.