Agriculture and food issues often cross provincial, national and international boundaries. Being a leader of a farm organization frequently requires representatives to look well beyond the farm gate to tackle issues that impact their members. That’s certainly the case for Thunder Bay, Ont., dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld, who in 2023 will again lead the Ontario… Read More
Category: COVID-19
The cost of food, fuelled by inflation levels not seen in decades, is the top “life” issue concerning Canadians. That’s the headline emerging from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) 2022 public trust research report, released during the organization’s annual summit in Toronto this week. The 2022 findings illustrate that the cost of food… Read More
Even as we enter a third year of COVID-related disruptions, farm and agriculture part stores are still finding it difficult to keep certain items in stock due to supply chain issues that continue to plague the industry. Additionally, for some items, including many petroleum products, the price point has seen a steep increase, with no… 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
Several agriculture groups are calling for an immediate conclusion of the blockades of Canada’s transport and trade corridors, and for all levels of government to work collaboratively towards action on the issue. Protests have hampered or stopped the transport of fruits and vegetables, meat, food packaging, feed supplies, livestock shipments, transport equipment, and inputs for… Read More
There has been no shortage of opinions since the January 15 trucker vaccine mandate came into force. The mandate requires all travellers, regardless of their job, to be fully vaccinated before crossing the Canada-U.S. border. The mandate coming into force has served as a watershed moment for the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring protests in downtown Ottawa… Read More
No matter where you turn in Alberta right now, everyone is talking about the blockade at the international Coutts/Sweetgrass border crossing. Earlier in the week, we reported the crossing was choked off to any traffic and the disruption was weighing heavily on local and international commerce, including shipments of boxed beef, live cattle, and feed…. Read More
As disruptions at the Canada-U.S. border crossing stretch into nearly a week, Canada’s beef industry has serious concerns with supply chain challenges, including the lack of access to feed coming from the U.S. and impacts on cross-border movement of cattle and meat products. Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA), and the Canadian… Read More
The RCMP has issued a travel advisory in regards to the Coutts, Alta., border crossing. Protesters, demonstrating against federal vaccine mandates, began a blockade at the crossing on January 29, 2022. The RCMP says it is looking to get the border crossing up and running as soon as possible. The crossing is a busy one… Read More
Five federal ministers hosted a National Supply Chain Summit January 31st to discuss the challenges facing Canada’s supply chain and to identify potential solutions to ensure that what Canadians need reach their households as quickly as possible. Participants for this initial event included representation of Canadian organizations including business associations, manufacturers, exporters associations, as well… Read More
Egg Farmers of Canada is announcing a contribution of approximately 3.5 million fresh eggs to food banks across the country, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Canadian food security. Food Banks Canada appealed to more than 1200 egg farmers from across Canada for more local eggs to ensure that fresh, nutritious food be made… Read More
The Ministers of Transport, Labour, Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, and the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance have released a joint statement regarding the vaccine mandate for all entering Canada at border crossings which took effect January 15, 2022: “The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on all Canadians. Within the… Read More
Organizers of the CropConnect Conference say that extensions of public health orders in Manitoba have pushed the committee to cancel the 2022 conference. “We were looking forward to reconnecting with everyone, but the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors are our top priority. The hosting committee, made up of representation from your provincial commodity… Read More
A convoy of truck drivers and their supporters assembled early Monday morning at the Emerson, Man. border crossing to protest the Canadian government’s cross-border vaccine requirement that began Saturday, January 15. The rolling convoy continued through the day on Monday north of the Emerson, Man.-Pembina, ND crossing. All truckers entering Canada as of January 15… Read More
Have you ever tried to solve a problem and the solution you come up with is actually worse than the original problem? Sometimes, in our quest to solve an issue, we fail to realize the full ramifications of the potential solutions we come up with. It’s this kind of chain reaction that makes decision making… Read More