Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy

Barriers to entry are keeping the very people who should be growing cannabis out of the picture. That's one of the reasons cannabis professional reporter with The Globe and Mail Jameson Berkow is calling Canada's first year of legalized cannabis a dud. The verdict is in, and Year One of legalized cannabis in Canada was... Read More

Ontario's government has released its proposed animal welfare model to replace the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act. Earlier this year, the OSPCA informed the province it would no longer carry out animal welfare enforcement in the province, necessitating a revamp of the current animal welfare enforcement model and rules.... Read More

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) met in Ottawa for three days last week to tackle industry challenges, including the advent of African swine fever (ASF) overseas. Gary Stordy, director of government and corporate affairs for the CPC, says the meeting was very productive and much needed, especially in light of ASF. "The industry is not... Read More

Alberta's Minister of Finance, Travis Toews, donned a pair of old cowboy boots before unveiling Alberta's latest budget, saying that to him, the boots represent a part of Alberta's heritage, and "speak to the practical and resilient character of Albertans." The budget, intended to "end overspending and live within our means," saw changes to many... Read More

Ryan Greir, a sheep producer from Alberta, has been named as the chair for the National Sheep Network (NSN). Greir is currently the vice-chair of Alberta Lamb Producers, and farms just east of Strathmore with his wife Janna and young son. The NSN represents Canada’s top three lamb producing provinces —Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec —... Read More

Jubilant wouldn’t be the word I’d use the describe the majority of Canadians on this post-election day. That’s even truer in rural Canada. Although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed a clear mandate in his victory speech, the strength of his government looks like one with its knees cut out from under it. Of course, it... Read More

We are still waiting for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — NAFTA 2.0 — to be ratified in both Canada and the U.S. In both countries, major political happenings are dragging on the process: a federal election here in Canada, and the threat of impeachment of the president in the U.S. Canada West Foundation's Carlo Dade says... Read More

Change is constant. It's also uncomfortable and difficult. And, according to one policy analyst, significant agriculture trade flow and economic change is on the horizon — is Canada ready? "Part of the reason for putting together this policy note is to sort of to help people understand we need to appreciate the breadth and depth... Read More

The Government of Manitoba has announced changes to the Water Rights Act, changes the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) say will make it harder — not easier — for farmers to control water on their land. The Pallister government has launched a "new approach" to the act which will streamline the approval process for producers and... Read More

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is a man of the people. There was no better evidence of that than this week when he sat with dairy farmers at the World Dairy Expo to listen to their concerns. Quite simply, U.S. dairy farmers are in a tough spot. After five years of depressed milk prices, producers... Read More