Farmers and ranchers made their way to the Alberta Legislature today, to voice opposition to Bill 6. Their concerns were largely centred around the loss of a 'lifestyle,' and the 'family farm,' should the bill move forward. The rally was organized on Facebook, with another planned for Monday. Related: Alberta Labour Minister’s Perspective on Bill... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Last week, the Alberta government announced the introduction of Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranchers Workers Act. Farmers have engaged in a hefty amount of debate on the new legislation. As the Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour states in the interview below, “this is a complex bill.” Read: Farm Safety... Read More
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is hoping the arrival of new federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay will mark a change in the impact farmers have on public policy. MacAulay’s been on the job for less than a month, but so far Ron Bonnett likes what he sees. The CFA president received a call from the... Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has re-elected Don McCabe as its president for 2016. The Lambton County farmer was unopposed for the position, which he won for the second consecutive year during the OFA’s annual meeting in Toronto this week. Despite being acclaimed, there were some challenges for the returning president regarding how he and... Read More
The eight experts who comprise the province’s Agri-Food Growth Steering Committee, tasked last fall with developing recommendations to address Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s jobs-and-exports challenge, have spoken. And what they had to say in a two-page letter full of advice to agriculture and agri-food minister Jeff Leal could have a profound effect on the agri-food... Read More
The Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) has new application rules, deadlines and funding levels to better help farmers take advantage of the program. GLASI is targeted to farmers in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds, and Lake Huron’s southeast shores watershed, to help implement Better Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce phosphorus loading... Read More
Official Opposition leader Rona Ambrose unveiled the Conservatives' shadow cabinet on Friday, assigning experienced MPs and former cabinet ministers to new critic roles. Former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has been tapped to serve as International Trade critic, a natural fit following his work on building market access as ag minister. Ritz will closely follow the... Read More
The Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act was introduced today to the Alberta Legislature. “Everyone deserves a safe, fair and healthy workplace. With this bill, workplace legislation will now extend to farms and ranches," said Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, Lori Sigurdson. "The rules we implement must respect the unique qualities... Read More
Farmers and farm groups need to be involved in planning policies to address climate change, says the head of Keystone Agricultural Producers — Manitoba’s general farm group. The new federal government has made reducing national greenhouse gas emissions a priority, committing to the creation of a pan-Canadian framework for combatting climate change and to meeting... Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued his marching orders for his new cabinet. As part of his commitment to "open and transparent" government, the ministerial mandate letters are being shared publicly for the first time. All 30 letters were posted on the Prime Minister's Office website on Friday, including a letter to Lawrence MacAulay, Minister... Read More