Sep 16 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The next Parliament needs to address the issue, Bonnett says. Ottawa—After couple of years scoping out what has to be done to build consumer confidence in Canadian agrifood products, the Public Trust Steering Committee (PSTC) finally has a permanent home at the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). The committee was established in 2017 […]
Sep 12 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — No specific proposals have been outlined yet. Ottawa—The Employment Department says it’s planning to engage farm organizations and workers about key issues involving the hiring of foreign workers to fill vacant jobs in the agrifood sector. The announcement provided no details on how or when engagement would be held. Their focus would be on […]
Sep 11 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Canadian Meat Council wants to see a strategy for dealing with the issue. Ottawa—The so-called temporary suspension of Canadian pork and beef exports to China now is in its third month with no resolution in sight and losses mounting, says the Canadian Meat Council (CMC). The suspension began June 25 when China said it […]
Sep 10 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — U.S. looking for grounds to push for market openings. Ottawa—Canadian trade observers should be keeping a close eye on a fact-finding investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) looking for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. The investigation was requested by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as part of the […]
Sep 9 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Bibeau says the government is still working with the supply-managed sector. Ottawa—Dairy processor groups across the country say the federal government has reneged on its promise to compensate their members for the economic harm that will result from the European and Pacific free trade deals and the new NAFTA when it is ratified. The […]
Sep 5 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Dominic Barton will have a full agenda when he takes up his post in Beijing. Ottawa—The appointment of Dominic Barton as Canadian ambassador to China was welcomed by farm leaders but the former business leader and university chancellor will have a lot of issues to deal with besides blocked shipments of canola, pork and […]
Aug 30 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — It may take time after the election to judge the effectiveness of CFA and CAFTA initiatives. Ottawa –The agrifood sector has a message about its economic importance to the national economy to deliver to everyone running for a seat in Parliament in this fall’s federal election and even though many candidates have yet to […]
Aug 29 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Embracing new technology and finding more workers are essential to moving Canadian farms ahead. Ottawa—Canadian farmers have the potential to produce $51 billion worth of food by 2030 compared to the current $32 billion if they can afford to adopt new technology and find enough trained workers, says a report from the Royal Bank […]
Aug 28 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Bibeau says the government is responding and more will be done. Ottawa–Export-oriented farmers are facing significant market disruptions due to global trade disruptions and want the federal government to provide them with financial support as it plans to do for 11,000 Canadian dairy farmers, the AGgrowth Coalition says. The Coalition has been pushing for action for months […]
Aug 21 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Two CAPI conferences hear about lots of ideas that won’t be easy to implement. Ottawa—Moving to sustainable agriculture practices receives plenty of platitudes but making them actually happen won’t be a simple endeavour, two conferences sponsored by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute have concluded. The conferences in Calgary and Guelph earlier this year heard […]
Aug 20 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa–The announcement of $1.75 billion in financial aid for dairy farmers during the next eight years to offset the impact of increased domestic market access under trade deals settles only one of the compensation discussions affecting supply management that started last fall and leaves up in the air how the new NAFTA deal will be […]
Aug 19 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Announcement covers only one of three areas under discussion with the dairy and poultry sectors. Ottawa–The announcement of $1.75 billion in financial aid for dairy farmers during the next eight years to offset the impact of increased domestic market access under trade deals settles only one of the compensation discussions affecting supply management that […]
Aug 13 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Science research needs to be integrated with industry practices for national and international progress. Ottawa—The farm community needs a network of experts and practitioners to work together in tackling the obstacles to achieving clean growth in future food production, says the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). In a report full of ideas and information […]
Aug 9 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Discussion of proposed AgriStability changes may need to be stepped up. Ottawa—The ramping up of the U.S.-China trade war will put more pressure on the Canadian government to increase its financial assistance to farmers who are already suffering from the early stages of the superpower skirmish. China has announced it will stop buying U.S. […]
Aug 7 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The need for action echoes Commons agriculture committee report on mental health. Ottawa—The Do More Agriculture (DMA) Foundation and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) are extending and expanding their partnership to bring mental health awareness and training to rural Canada. The two-day training program, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is aimed at developing […]