Trade has become the talk on all news programs and in coffee shops across not just Canada, but all of North America. America's Trump administration has promised it will improve current deals and strike new bilateral agreements around the world, creating opportunities and challenges for Canada. With the impending NAFTA renegotiation being a hot topic,... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
The CEO of one of Canada's largest grain companies is "very optimistic" a timely resolution will be reached to maintain Canadian pulse crop shipments to India. A looming change to India's phytosanitary policy for pulse imports effective April 1 has left sales to Canada's largest pulse export market in limbo over the last few weeks.... Read More
Change is good. Change is the only constant. Be the change you want to see in the world. There's no shortage of sayings that reference change. Michael Barrett, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, prefers, though, to use imagery when discussing change and being ready for it. In his words, there are lines in... Read More
The Saskatchewan government is asking the farm and ranch community for input on how it delivers agriculture extension services in the province. A new delivery model is expected to be in place when the next federal-provincial ag policy framework begins in April 2018, according to a provincial news release issued Tuesday. “The agriculture industry is... Read More
Albertans are being asked to provide feedback on recommendations made by two of the working groups looking at how Bill 6 could apply to farms and ranches. Since the introduction of the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act in November 2015, farmers across Alberta, and even other provinces, have criticized the government's plan... Read More
After launching exploratory discussions with China last fall, the Canadian government is taking another step toward negotiating a trade deal Canada's second-largest trading partner. As part of the March 4th issue of the Canada Gazette, Global Affairs Canada announced it's asking for feedback on how to proceed with a possible free trade agreement with China.... Read More
In a rare, but completely legal move, Ontario's provincial government has removed an elected board of directors and named a trustee to oversee the organization. Late last week, Jeff Leal, minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) fired the entire Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) board, and appointed Elmer Buchanan, a farmer and former... Read More
In what may be called trying to clean up the mess she made, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced yesterday the "Fair Hydro Plan" which is designed to decrease the average residential hydro bill by 25% and cap bill increases for the next four years. As part of the announcement, Wynne says "Starting this summer, Ontario's... Read More
The Canadian Grain Commission formally launched consultations today on a proposed reduction to its user fees. The CGC is also seeking input on potential uses of its $107 million surplus. The proposal and discussion period come less than three weeks after new commissioners took the reins of the federal department that regulates the grain industry.... Read More
A guest editorial by Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada There have been a lot of questions about trade since the U.S. election. The new President promised to take the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and he did just that with his first Executive Order. President Trump has also promised to renegotiate NAFTA, causing... Read More