Global need, market prices, and implications from the pandemic have all demonstrated the benefits of bolstering local agriculture infrastructure, something that Alberta NDP ag critic, Heather Sweet, says the province needs to play catch up on. When comparing the Prairie Provinces, Alberta is showing far less traction with breaking ground on new value-added processing than… Read More
If there’s a terrible traffic jam, and you’re trying to get delivery of goods to the other side, is it smarter to send more trucks or to solve the traffic jam first? It’s a simple metaphor, and one that works well for framing a discussion on addressing infrastructure challenges — there’s no point trying to… Read More
Today, the Government of Canada published the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), which is to replace the previously existing Renewable Fuels Regulations. The new regulations focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The CFR set increasingly stringent requirements on producers and importers to reduce the carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel, according to a recent news… Read More
Over the past few years the phrase “unprecedented times” has been used often and for good reason. There has been a continual domino effect of global events that has put a unique strain on many things, especially global trade. The result is that change isn’t coming — it’s here. As a country, Canada needs to… Read More
2021 has been a tough weather year. From prolonged drought and excessive heat, to the flooding witnessed in recent weeks in British Columbia — weather disasters have had a tremendous impact on Canadian farms and agriculture businesses. Erik Davies, from Barefoot Consulting, has spent his career working on disaster recovery and risk management issues. Last month… Read More
For the second consecutive year, Thunder Bay, Ont. dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld will lead the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the province’s largest general farm organization. Brekveld was elected president by OFA’s board of directors after the conclusion of the organization’s annual general meeting on Monday, Nov. 22. Mark Reusser and Drew Spoelstra were re-elected as… Read More
Trains could be rolling again on CP Rail tracks through southern B.C. as soon as the middle of this coming week, barring any unforeseen issues, according to the railway. Both CP and CN Rail’s critical main lines that connect the Port of Vancouver to rest of Canada have been closed due to damage from flooding… Read More
The Government of Ontario released its provincial budget Wednesday, with a big spend on internet and broadband expansion for the province, including rural areas. The announcement of $2.8 billion for expanded broadband will bring the total that Ontario has committed to broadband expansion over $4 billion, with a commitment to connect the entire province by… Read More
The federal government is investing another $750 million on top of the previously announced $1 billion in its Universal Broadband Fund in an effort to improve Canadians’ access to high-speed internet. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a cadre of cabinet ministers made the announcement in Ottawa on Monday. The $1 billion effort to bring fast… Read More
Almost everyone who lives in a rural area is well aware of the challenges with infrastructure and services — from keeping schools open, to attracting and retaining doctors, to building roads and fixing bridges. Fewer though are likely fully aware of just how far behind their local town or municipality has fallen in keeping up… Read More
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has given the green light to SpaceX’s plan for providing high-speed internet to areas with poor service using low Earth orbit satellites. SpaceX is the space exploration and satellite company owned by Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla. SpaceX has received plenty of attention for… Read More
Leveraging a loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the province of Alberta and eight southern irrigation districts will pony up over $400 million for new irrigation projects. A 50 per cent commitment from the federally-backed bank will cover off the remaining $407 million, for a total funding of $815 million for new reservoirs, enhancements to… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his government’s $10 billion plan to create jobs and spur economic growth. Through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the government plan includes five major infrastructure initiatives expected to create approximately 60,000 jobs across the country. As part of the Government of Canada’s plan to “build back better,” the three-year plan… Read More
For perhaps the first time in several generations, Canadians have been faced with real uncertainty in their food system. The fallout of the COVID-19 economic shutdown and panic buying led to shuttered processors, dumped milk, and empty grocery store shelves. Most consumers wouldn’t normally think about or talk about food security or agriculture on a… Read More
Ontario’s government will roll out $150 million in cost-share funding through its Improving Connectivity in Ontario (ICON) program as part of its plan to build broadband and cellular service in rural areas. ICON is part of the province’s $315 million initiative called Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan. When leveraged, ICON has… Read More
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