May 17 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — G20 agriculture ministers note investment needed to boost food production. Ottawa—Just 11 weeks into her tenure as federal agriculture minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau had a wide array of issues to juggle during a four day visit to Japan for her first G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting. While the Chinese blockade on Canadian canola dominated the headlines, […]
May 17 2019 — Glen Pearson — National Newswatch — It’s tough to blame him. In its own way it seemed kind of inevitable. Francis Fukuyama was little known to the outside world in 1989, but his star was rising within the American State Department. And his timing was perfect when he published The End of History and the Last Man six months prior to […]
May 15 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Canola isn’t the only crop affected by trade disputes. Ottawa—The U.S.-China trade tiff is destabilizing international trade and the federal government needs a strategy to cushion Canadian farmers from the fallout, says Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) and its members. In addition to the Chinese blockade against Canadian canola seed and other crops, grain […]
May 14 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — McCain warns outdated rules could create an economic Armageddon. Ottawa—The united front shown by the Chief Veterinary Officers of Canada, the United States and Mexico at a two-conference on confronting African Swine Fever (ASF) was a good start, say agrifood leaders and veterinarians. However much needs to be done by the three governments and […]
May 13 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Packaging matters for producers and consumers. Ottawa—In a move the rest of the agrifood sector will be watching, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has formed a working group to look into what alternatives to current plastic packaging are available. “This is a complex issue which is a focus for consumers, governments and industry,” […]
May 9 2019 — Daniel-Robert Gooch and Steve Hankinson — National Newswatch — Section 1: Daniel-Robert Gooch, President, Canadian Airports Council Madame chairperson, members of the committee. Thank-you for the opportunity to appear before you today, as well as for your ongoing support in our efforts to improve the experience at airport screening. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is led by a hard-working team of professionals […]
May 9 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Special Senate hearing kicked off new study on soil health in Canada. Ottawa—Higher crop prices and the trend to increased use of rented land is leading to abuse of the country’s valuable farmland, warns long time soil health advocate Don Lobb. Lobb, a former farmer, was part of a panel testifying to the Senate […]
May 9 2019 — Justin Bergamini — National Newswatch — Every year in Canada, a number of days, weeks and even a month – October – are celebrated to foster greater awareness of mental health issues. Probably the best known, Bell Let’s Talk Day, like most others, focuses on creating a conversation to de-stigmatize mental illness. This Mental Health Week (May 6-12) we should take […]
May 8 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Worker shortages in the agrifood sector are a glaring example of the problem. Ottawa—The last of the baby boomer generation will exit the work force during the next 11 years and that’s only going to worsen labour shortages across Canada, the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) says in a new report. “Due to its […]
May 7 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—Agrifood groups seeking changes to a fisheries bill to ensure it doesn’t disrupt farm operations across the country have the backing of the Senate fisheries committee. Committee Deputy Chairman Senator Marc Gold of Quebec said the Government Senate Leader Peter Harder and Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson have indicated they are prepared to amend sections of […]
May 2 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Farm leaders put human face to the consequences of an ASF outbreak in the Americas. Ottawa—More than 150 officials and agrifood representatives from 15 countries brainstormed for two days on measures to halt the global spread of African Swine Fever in pigs and keep it out of the Americas. They agreed that a lot […]
May 1 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Canada will keep working on diversifying agrifood markets and trying to get China to talk science. Ottawa—The maximum available under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for all crop growers will be raised to $1 million from the current $400,000 and the enrollment deadline pushed back two months, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced May 1. […]
Apr 30 2019 — Massimo Bergamini — National Newswatch — Text of the opening remarks of Massimo Bergamini President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) before the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities today, as it studies the Security Screening Services Commercialization Act which would transfer airport security screening functions to a new not for profit entity. These […]
Apr 30 2019 — Glen Pearson — National Newswatch — Is it true? Is a Blue Conservative wave sweeping Canada as in so much of the rest of the world? Andrew Cohen provided some clues in his Ottawa Citizen article when he wrote that, provincially, five provinces led by Liberals or NDP have been defeated by Conservatives in the last three years. Jason Kenney’s win […]
Apr 29 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Chamber offers several suggestions for overcoming European protectionism. Ottawa—The federal government has to make better use of dispute mechanisms in the free trade deal with the European Union to tackle protectionist measures that are hindering agrifood exports to Europe, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce The 18-month-old trade deal removed most tariffs but that […]