Over the course of the summer, the U.S. Federal Reserve has cut interest rates twice, with the latest drop in its benchmark overnight lending rate taking it to a target range of 1.75% to 2%. Over the same timeframe, the Bank of Canada hasn't touched interest rates, and the probability of seeing a cut this... Read More
Category: Politics
Canadians may not be optimistic about agri-food becoming a primary topic for the upcoming election, but they are thinking about some perhaps surprising agriculture and food-related issues. A survey of 1,524 Canadians, conducted Sept 9 by Angus Reid Global and Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab, looked to gauge Canadians' opinion on where they ranked agriculture... Read More
Canadians will officially hit the polls this October. "A few moments ago, I met her excellency the governor general who accepted my request to dissolve parliament. Canadians will head to the polls on October 21," says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The PM is seeking his second term as Canada's leader. The Liberal Party of Canada's... Read More
Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr has put out a statement in regards to the government's talks with China over blocked canola exports. Earlier this year, China revoked the export license of a major Canadian canola company citing various pests were found in the product. Later, a second company was hit with the same... Read More
Canada's relationship with China is complicated — it involves extradition, unlawful retribution arrests, non-tariff barriers, fake CFIA documents, and a spying telecom company. In the months since the recall of former Canadian ambassador to China John McCallum, the agriculture industry has been waiting very impatiently for a new ambassador. Agriculture's hope has been that a... Read More
Just over seven months since Canada's ambassador to China John McCallum was fired from his duties, the federal government has appointed a new ambassador. “I am pleased to announce Dominic Barton as Canada’s Ambassador to China," says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "His years of experience in Asia, and the significant global economics expertise he has... Read More
What do Chinese government leaders think of Canada? Can our government correct a policy course that has put Canadian agricultural exports on the ropes and knocked canola and meat out of the globe's most lucrative economy? Earlier this week, RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney put these questions to Charles Burton, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier... Read More
The fury and confusion hasn't quite settled, following the USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report released this week. "(It) doesn't make any sense, and I think probably 98 per cent of the people, and market analysts, farmers, grain buyers, etc. all thought the exact same thing — probably actually 99.8 per cent,"... Read More
As residents of Manitoba gear up for both a provincial election slated for September and the federal election some time in October, the Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) have highlighted priority areas its members will be keeping a close eye on. “Manitoba’s 6,500 beef producers play a critical role in the local and national economy, creating... Read More
The official leader of the opposition Andrew Scheer was in Saskatoon, Sask., last week and gave a speech to both the Saskatoon chamber of commerce and at the annual general meeting of the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC). While at the DFC meeting, the topic of the new NAFTA/USMCA was brought up. Scheer tells RealAgriculture... Read More