Last month, the federal government announced it was launching consultations for a full review of the Canada Grain Act. Producers, grain companies, exporters, and all points of the value chain will have a chance to have their say on what they think should be changed in the act. Brett Halstead, chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
A Conservative MP's private member's bill that aims to exempt propane and natural gas used on farms from the federal carbon tax was approved at second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday night. MPs from the Conservative, New Democrat, Bloc and Green parties voted in favour of Ontario MP Philip Lawrence's Bill C-206,... Read More
An enterprising farmer is one that, in finding a gap in available equipment, decides simply to build their own. Such is the case with Korb Whale of Clovermead Farms and the biodigester setup on his farm. When the farm decided to pursue building a digester, there really wasn't a turn-key option in Canada. Instead, Whale... Read More
What goes on behind the doors of a lobbyist's office? What even is a lobbyist and what can they achieve for agriculture? Our guest today is Dave Carey, vice president, government and industry relations of Canadian Canola Growers Association, who's just been named part of the Top 100 Lobbyists in Canada by The Hill Times.... Read More
One of the silver linings of COVID-19 is that it has shone a spotlight on Canadian farms and food production, says the federal agriculture minister. Marie-Claude Bibeau joined Shaun Haney for Canada's Agriculture Day to highlight the event and discuss several key agriculture policy files. Bibeau also delivered the opening remarks at Agriculture More Than... Read More
Sitting on multiple boards during a lifetime is an invaluable experience. Having dedicated board members involved in policy and agriculture commissions can spark real change for agriculture in Canada. Jeff Nielsen spent time as a director of the Alberta Barley Commission, and as the chair — through the position's various names — of Grain Growers... Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has officially announced the membership of the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council. The council is a central component of the Food Policy for Canada program, that was announced in 2019. The announcement, which was part of the virtual Food Systems Summit Dialogue, convened by the Arrell Food Institute... Read More
The Western Canadian grain trade, with the support of the Prairie provinces, is launching a campaign to push for changes to "outdated and problematic" federal rules around the oversight of Canada's ports, mainly driven by cost increases at the Port of Vancouver over the last few years. The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) says its... Read More
Grain companies have laid out their priorities for the current review of the Canada Grain Act, with consultations underway until April 30. There have been multiple attempts to update the Act going back to the early 2000s, but they've all been derailed before reaching the point where the legislation was changed. As Wade Sobkowich, executive... Read More
Everyone has a different motivation to get involved in agricultural policy — sometimes family is an influence, other times it's the drive to advocate on behalf of a certain commodity. Essex, Ont., farmer Brendan Byrne was elected at the beginning of February to the position of chair for Grain Farmers of Ontario. Before being appointed,... Read More