There may be a flurry of activity in several accountants' offices over the next 10 weeks as farm families grapple with how changes to the capital gains inclusion rate and exemption laid out in the latest federal budget may impact their succession planning. The government plans to increase the taxable portion of capital gains —... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
The development of Canada's biofuel sector was highlighted in the Canadian government's 2024 budget announced on April 16th, but ethanol was notably absent from the list of renewable fuel categories that will receive support. The budget included a commitment of $776 million for a retooled Clean Fuels Fund to drive production of renewable diesel, sustainable... Read More
Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is several years into what's been dubbed a "transformation." The PMRA reform process started nearly three years ago, leading up to the 2021 federal election, and this initial "transformation" was to focus on four area: transparency, increase the use of real-world data and independent advice, strengthen human health... Read More
Jacob Shapiro of Cognitive Investments is back for another episode of Frontlines. Joining host Shaun Haney, Shapiro delves into the complex dynamics of current Middle Eastern geopolitics which continues to find increased escalation among a broader set of countries. When it comes to the Middle East it is difficult to gain a full understanding of... Read More
The federal budget introduced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday featured changes to how capital gains are taxed, as well as federal funding to develop biofuel production and artificial intelligence, but did not mention many topics and programs farm groups were hoping to see addressed. It also included many previously-announced measures, such as the... Read More
In March, under political pressure to do something about the housing crisis, the federal government announced changes to the amount of temporary residents that would be allowed in to Canada beginning May 1. On the surface, this may not seem to directly impact agriculture if farms and agri-businesses typically access the seasonal worker programs. However,... Read More
Grain Growers of Canada has published a set of policy recommendations for government to support Canada's grain sector in its "Road to 2050" sustainability inititative. The policy recommendations would see government partner with grain farmers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by increasing investment in public and private breeding research, expanding eligibility criteria and funding... Read More
Nearly 3,500 livestock producers in Saskatchewan who were eligible for drought assistance through the AgriRecovery program launched last October will be receiving a top-up of up to $50 per head from the federal and provincial governments. Provincial agriculture minister David Marit announced the additional payments during a visit to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association head office... Read More
Canada is a trade-reliant nation across several industries, agriculture included. Canada's primary producers have mixed opinions on the real value of trade, however. In a recent RealAgristudies survey, only 52 per cent of Canadian farmers and ranchers perceive trade and market access as having a positive impact on their operations. This statistic, though seemingly modest,... Read More
B.C. wine of a 2024 vintage is going to be hard to find in the coming years, as vineyards and fruit producers in much of southern B.C. are reeling from a cold snap in January — the latest in a series of major challenges for the high value crops grown in the region. "I'm hearing... Read More