On behalf of Minister of Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food John Barlow  (do not contact RM office regarding this):

I am writing to request your assistance in gathering critical municipal data regarding the impact of gopher (Richardson’s ground squirrel) infestations on agricultural lands in your jurisdiction. The purpose of this data collection is to provide a clear and credible summary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, with the goal of encouraging timely action to support Prairie producers facing increasingly severe pest damage.

Across the Prairie provinces, rural municipalities have reported escalating gopher activity, with noticeable increases in crop and pastureland damage. Recent media coverage and anecdotal reports highlight how some areas have experienced substantial losses in yield and livestock safety concerns.

This situation is further complicated by the federal ban on strychnine, which took full effect in March 2025. With the loss of this deterrent, many producers are reporting limited effectiveness from alternative methods, and municipalities are expressing concern about the long-term viability of maintaining productive agricultural land under these conditions.

To that end, we kindly request that your Agriculture Service Board provide the following information:

Extent of Damage: Estimates or documented evidence of gopher-related crop and pasture damage during the 2024 growing season.

Yield and Economic Impact: Data on any measurable reduction in agricultural productivity or financial losses attributable to gopher activity.

Current Mitigation Strategies: A summary of any control measures currently in use within your municipality and their observed effectiveness.

Outlook for 2025 and Beyond: Your ASB’s assessment of anticipated impacts on agricultural land use and productivity if no effective control options are reintroduced.
Our office will compile this data into a report to be shared with the Minister and relevant stakeholders. This is an important opportunity to ensure the voices of rural municipalities and producers are properly represented at the federal level.

We kindly ask that all responses be submitted by July 31, 2025. Submissions may be sent via email to john.barlow@parl.gc.ca. Should you have questions or require clarification, please contact my office directly.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to the success of Canadian agriculture. I appreciate your municipality’s engagement and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

John Barlow
Member of Parliament for Foothills
Shadow Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
613-995-8471 | john.barlow@parl.gc.ca