The topic of trade was heavily discussed among attendees at this year’s CropSphere conference. This comes as no surprise to most, as Canadian farmers continue to deal with trade uncertainty on the global stage. One of the keynote speakers, Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, touched on how politics relate to both trade overall and… Read More
The Conservative Party of Canada is again looking for a new leader, just two years after Andrew Scheer stepped up. Now that the rules of engagement have been laid out, featuring some significant changes from the last leadership race, names are being added — and not added — to the list of contenders. Jeff English,… Read More
Albertans will likely know Danielle Smith from her time as Leader of the Wildrose Party (2009-2014). Today, Smith is the host of Afternoons on NewsTalk770 for Calgary, Alta. and last week, she was a keynote speaker at the Prairie Cereals Summit at Banff, Alta. In this interview, filmed at the summit, Smith speaks candidly with… Read More
The first phase of a trade deal between China and the U.S. has been agreed upon by both parties. United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer says U.S. President Donald Trump has “focused on concluding a Phase One agreement that achieves meaningful, fully-enforceable structural changes and begins rebalancing the U.S.-China trade relationship.” As part of… Read More
Andrew Scheer has announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Scheer made the announcement in the House of Commons December 12, 2019. The news isn’t a shock to many, as the leader lost the latest election to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; however, Scheer did vow less than three weeks ago to retain… Read More
Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America have signed off on the final details of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The overall revamping of the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement was accomplished at the end of September, 2018, and negotiators have been on the file ever since to move the agreement closer to… Read More
As the 43rd session of parliament opened Dec 5th, the Governor General laid out the government’s priorities going forward. This year’s throne speech was titled “Moving Forward Together,” and key priorities outlined were: fighting climate change, strengthening the middle class, walking the road of reconciliation, keeping Canadians safe and healthy, and positioning Canada for success… Read More
Alberta MP John Barlow will step in on the agriculture file for the first session of the 43rd Parliament, replacing MP Luc Berthold as Agriculture and Agri-Food shadow minister. Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer named Barlow to the post while moving Berthold to shadow minister of Infrastructure and Communities. Originally from Saskatchewan, Barlow… Read More
According to a Canadian veteran journalist, the days are numbered for the Leader of the Official Opposition. Long time journalist for the Globe and Mail John Ibbitson recently wrote that Conservative Party of Canada Leader Andrew Scheer “does not appear to be up to the challenge.” Scheer’s critics, including Ibbitson, argue a change in leadership… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his new, larger cabinet set to face the many challenges ahead for Canada, including regional disgruntlement, a threatened economy, and trade disruption around the world. Agriculture is in the middle of all of the these great challenges. Quebec MP Marie-Claude Bibeau will return as minister of Agriculture and Agri-food,… Read More
It’s entirely possible that the United States Congress could ratify the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA/CUSMA) before Christmas, says Jim Wiesemeyer, Washington analyst for ProFarmer, as the votes are there — but will they? There is still work to be done in Congress ahead of the holidays, Wiesemeyer says, including passing a spending bill, so ratification before… Read More
This week, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture elected Keith Currie to a fourth term as leader of the general farm organization. Currie has a reputation for building relationships inside and outside the organization and helping change the culture of the farm lobby group. But there’s more work to do. In this interview with RealAgriculture’s Bernard… Read More
While parts of Canada may have been looking for change, the move to a Liberal minority likely won’t change dairy producer priorities. “I would say it’s fairly status quo for us,” says Murray Sherk, Dairy Farmers of Ontario. “We work with whatever party (is) in power. We have good relationships with the Liberal Party…and they… Read More
The Canadian government may have seen some change after the election, but to producer organizations like the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), it doesn’t change the fact that they need to be at the table, working with whomever else is there. “I think it’s about what was expected, and as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, we work… Read More
Jubilant wouldn’t be the word I’d use the describe the majority of Canadians on this post-election day. That’s even truer in rural Canada. Although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed a clear mandate in his victory speech, the strength of his government looks like one with its knees cut out from under it. Of course, it… Read More