May 29 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Proposals need to be kept alive for after the October election. Ottawa—Sixteen actions the federal government could take to help with the mental health crisis on the country’s farms are proposed in a report from the Commons agriculture committee. The report, Mental Health: A Priority for Our Farmers, includes 10 recommendations adopted by all three […]
May 28 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The goal is to be ready to act wherever it might be found to protect the industry. Ottawa—While government and industry is working closely to keep African Swine Fever out of Canada, it’s also preparing a national action plan in case the deadly swine disease is found here, says Colleen Barnes, acting Vice-President of […]
May 27 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Outdated and cumbersome regulations serve neither consumers nor producers. Ottawa—The agrifood sector gave federal officials plenty to chew on in comments about how government regulations impede the international competitiveness of Canadian farm and food products. The Agrifood and Aquaculture Regulatory Review launched last year, along with targeted examinations of four other high-growth sectors, generated […]
May 24 2019 — Rick Smith — National Newswatch — Trying to follow the Conservative stance on climate change can give you whiplash. After all, this is a party that voted unanimously against signing the Paris Climate Accord in 2016, only to turn around eight months later and vote fully in support of the Accord (with only one Tory member dissenting). This new commitment didn’t […]
May 23 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The trade deal will be a boon for food exporters. Ottawa—Now that the United States has ended contentious tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Canada needs to make getting the new North American free trade deal ratified by Parliament a priority, say agrifood groups. Brian Innes, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), […]
May 23 2019 — Glen Pearson — National Newswatch — Sometimes we can all be pretty dumb. Seriously, we make assumptions based upon our belief that our positions are well thought out and we wonder how those with opposing views can be so naïve. I’ve encountered a lot of this lately, as a conservative mindset sweeps across much of the world. Those holding to such […]
May 22 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Health Canada needs to be more realistic in its consultations, processors say. Ottawa—Provisions in the sweeping bill to implement the spring federal budget don’t deal with the real problems facing food processors while saddling them with a lot of extra costs, the Senate agriculture committee has heard. CEO Kathleen Sullivan of Food and Beverage […]
May 21 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Jamieson has an extensive background in agrifood issues. Ottawa—Building public trust has been a key aim of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and its new president has been on the same page for years. In his role as Deputy Agriculture Minister in Prince Edward Island, John Jamieson used to provide extra funding for […]
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 […]