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
Category: Ag Policy
The long-time leader of Quebec’s Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) has announced he will not seek re-election as general president. Marcel Groleau, dairy producer from Thetford Mines, made the announcement last week. He will stay on as general president until December. Groleau has sat at the helm of the organization for ten years. Prior to that,… Read More
It’s time for a brand new show…which means time for a brand new introduction! On RealAg Politics we are going to really hone in on the political scene, ag policy, bring it all together, and connect the dots for you. There seems like no better time to launch the first episode, after the big political… Read More
Four U.S. senators are pushing, once again, for some form of mandatory country-of-origin labelling (mCOOL) of beef. Earlier this week, on September 8, two Republican and two Democrat senators announced a bill entitled the American Beef Labeling Act, which would require the U.S. Trade Representative to develop World Trade Organization-compliant mCOOL within a year of the bill… Read More
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen has appointed longtime agriculture advocate Kelly Smith-Fraser as chair of Agriculture Financial Services Corporation’s (AFSC) board of directors. Smith-Fraser, an Alberta cattle producer with years of experience on multiple boards, brings a wealth of knowledge, proven leadership, and a passion for agriculture to the role. She has previously… Read More
The title of livestock sustainability specialist could infer that there’s a finite amount of time that the role is relevant. After all, shouldn’t we, at some point, reach being sustainable, and move on? The trouble is, there isn’t a universally agreed upon measurement of sustainability. As Christoph Wand, livestock sustainability specialist for Ontario Ministry of… Read More
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)’s National Agriculture Leaders debate hit the airwaves at 7 pm E Thursday night for 90 minutes of lively banter between the four participants: NDP: Alistair MacGregor, Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford CPC: Dave Epp, MP for Chatham-Kent—Leamington BQ: Yves Perron, Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, MP… Read More
The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has named Chris Davison as vice president, stakeholder and industry relations, and Troy Sherman as director, government relations, both based in Ottawa, Ont. “We are very fortunate to have Chris and Troy join our organization,” says Jim Everson, president of the CCC. “Together, they will draw on the strengths… Read More
Next week, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture will host four political party leaders for a pre-election debate. Representatives from the Bloc Quebecois, Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, and the New Democratic Party will join moderators Shaun Haney and Martin Ménard for a one-hour question period tackling the top agriculture issues and… Read More
September is for back-to-school and new beginnings, and here at RealAgriculture, we promised a return to our LIVE! Q&A program in the fall. And here we are, on the cusp of a federal election, rolling out what you can expect for this next season of livestreaming. On Friday, September 10th, tune in at 3 pm… Read More
There’s growing concern about a federal excise tax that will greatly impact Canada’s craft distilleries. A campaign, called “Lift Canada’s Spirits,” is a coalition of small to large distilleries whose goal is to reduce the excise tax on the first small annual volume of spirits produced to be more in line with domestic, craft beer… Read More
The Manitoba government has opened up the process for applications and unveiled details on how livestock producers can receive funding through a pair of AgriRecovery drought programs designed to help producers move feed to their animals, or animals to feed. Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Ralph Eichler shared the news alongside leaders from Manitoba Beef… Read More
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit has rolled out details of the province’s AgriRecovery response, now referred to as the 2021 Canada-Saskatchewan Drought Response Initiative. Producers can submit applications for coverage beginning on September 1, 2021. The initiative will consist of two payments totalling up to $200/head for cattle, with adjustments based on animal unit equivalents for… Read More
Canadian pork production is increasingly in demand around the world, which is why the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) is committing to policies that will support a value chain that supports growth, in the upcoming federal election. Rick Bergmann, CPC chair says that Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable,… Read More
As the federal election gears up, political parties are rolling out platforms — easily made promises that they hope appeal to enough voters to support their party’s rise to form the next government. Ultimately, governments are decided not by those who grow or process food, but by those who live in the most populous areas,… Read More