While it’s possible roles and responsibilities will be shuffled around, nearly all of the familiar faces when it comes to agriculture policy in Ottawa were re-elected on Monday. Agriculture minister re-elected Incumbent Liberal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was re-elected in her riding of Compton-Stanstead in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, defeating the Bloc challenger by… Read More
China has formally requested to join the trade deal that was originally intended to limit China’s influence in the global economy. Canada and 10 other Pacific Rim countries signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — the CPTPP — in 2018. On Thursday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join… Read More
Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway’s plan to acquire Kansas City Southern (KCS) is one major step closer to becoming a done deal. The companies signed a merger agreement on Wednesday after rival Canadian National (CN) Railway waived its right to a five-day period to negotiate new terms with the coveted Kansas City-based railroad. The US$27.2 billion… Read More
Update, Sept 1: KCS has canceled the shareholder vote that was to be held Friday on whether to accept CN Rail’s offer. CN Rail’s preferred plan for taking over Kansas City Southern (KCS) has been blocked by U.S. regulators in a decision that’s being welcomed by rival suitor CP Rail. On Tuesday, the U.S. Surface… Read More
Flax growers in Western Canada and North Dakota who have historically sold straw to Schweitzer-Mauduit International (SWM) are now scrambling to find a market for their straw. The Georgia-based company, which has processing facilities at Winkler and Carman, Manitoba, is planning to cease its flax straw operations by the end of 2021. As a result,… Read More
The federal government has approved $500 million for drought and wildfire relief programs under the AgriRecovery framework, just hours before the launch of the federal election campaign on Sunday. The total includes the previously-announced $100 million. “We thank Minister Bibeau for attaining further funding to help beef farmers and ranchers dealing with widespread severe drought… Read More
The federal government has its eye on reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer, but it’s not clear how it intends to reach its target, and whether the target is achievable without having a detrimental impact on crop yields. Last December, while announcing the federal carbon tax would be increasing to $170/tonne of CO2 equivalent, the… Read More
The Manitoba government says it will commit $62 million in provincial funding to AgriRecovery programs to help livestock producers affected by this year’s drought. While details were not included in the August 10 announcement, Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says the programs will be designed to “ensure producers have options to retain and care for their… Read More
Following a tour of the drought-stricken Interlake region in Manitoba on Thursday (July 22), the federal agriculture minister announced several measures designed to provide support to producers across the country affected by drought. Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was accompanied by other government officials, including Conservative MP James Bezan, and representatives from Manitoba Beef Producers, the Canadian… Read More
The federal finance department has scrapped its plan to delay implementation of legislation passed by Parliament that would reduce the tax burden for intergenerational transfers of small businesses, such as family farms. Bill C-208, the private member’s bill that was sponsored by Manitoba Conservative MP Larry Maguire, received Royal Assent before Parliament rose for the… Read More
Ministers of agriculture from federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments across Canada discussed how to respond to the drought and wildfires in Western Canada on Thursday, in what may have been their final meeting before a federal election, if one is called in the coming weeks. The ministers also continued their discussions on changes to… Read More
A familiar face is returning as Manitoba’s agriculture minister. Ralph Eichler, who served as the province’s ag minister from 2016 to 2019, has been sworn in as minister of agriculture and resource development as part of a small cabinet shuffle announced by Premier Brian Pallister on Thursday (July 15). Eichler replaces his successor and long-time… Read More
The federal government has rejected Saskatchewan’s plan to replace the federal carbon tax, while at the same time announcing stricter requirements for provinces looking to avoid the federal carbon pricing system starting in 2023. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the rejection “can only be viewed as an arbitrary and political decision,” in a statement issued… Read More
The USDA projected tighter-than-expected wheat supplies for the 2021-22 crop year in its July World Agricultural Supply/Demand Estimates (WASDE) report released on Monday. Most of the other key figures in the report for the big three crops — corn, soy, and wheat — were in line with expectations, with yield projections left unchanged from June…. Read More
The federal transport minister has issued an order requiring Canada’s two main railways — Canadian National and Canadian Pacific — to implement a set of measures aimed at preventing further wildfires in southern B.C. and other parts of the country where fire risk is high. Minister Omar Alghabra issued the ministerial order on Sunday, following… Read More