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
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become abundantly clear to many that Canada’s livestock processing industry is incredibly concentrated to a handful of federal plants. Now, as these plants face partial or short-term closures, many farmers and consumers alike are lamenting the lack of small, local abattoirs. The trouble is, it’s not easy… Read More
A regulation change in 2014 requiring updating and potentially upgrading some rail crossings means several Manitoba farmers are on the hook for thousands in work to be done by CP Rail. A representative for the railway says it’s just enforcing the Grade Crossing Regulations and Grade Crossing Standards set out by Transport Canada nearly six… Read More
There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a huge impact on the global economy. The major disruption to food supply chains is one that will have a significant impact on domestic policy, infrastructure investment, and trade patterns in both the short and long term. Al Mussell, research lead with Agri-Food Economic Systems,… Read More
For those of us that work from home regularly, good broadband connectivity is essential. But in rural areas of Canada, effective broadband — capable of handling video calls, online classes, and more — is largely unavailable or exceeding expensive. During this global pandemic, thousands of farm and rural residents are sharing the reality of trying… Read More
Farmers in Manitoba are voicing frustration with the price and process of having natural gas brought to their farms, as the cost of drying last year’s crop has reignited efforts to access natural gas across the Prairies. Nearly every bushel of corn, as well as many other crops, in the province needed drying before going… Read More
The Port of Vancouver enables the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods, and sustains $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada. It’s forecasted to grow at about 3.5 per cent annually, and there is much to do to prepare for that level of growth. “We’re very busy — have been very busy, looking 10-20 years… Read More
Eastern Ontario’s Port of Johnstown will see a $10.4 million infrastructure renewal and expansion to capitalize on growing and emerging markets for Canadian soybean, wheat and corn, and relieve inefficiencies and bottlenecks currently experienced at the port. The federal government will foot $4.8 million of the bill through the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) to… Read More