Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced the federal government’s fall economic update today. The report is titled, Investing in Middle Class Jobs. The Liberals will spend billions of dollars trying to give Canada an edge in the world economy but the plan is mainly focused competitiveness with the U.S. The business tax rate currently sitting… Read more »
Category: Politics
Currie focusing on prosperity in third term as OFA president
Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Keith Currie is hoping 2019 will be a prosperous year for farmers in the province. Earlier this week, the Colingwood, Ont., farmer was acclaimed to his third term as leader of the farm lobby organization. A big part of Currie’s success over past year has been his leadership in drafting… Read more »
Agriculture has Canadian competitiveness on its mind this winter
This year has brought many political events to remember including trade deals, a new party on the right, and a bizarre foreign trip to India for Prime Minister Trudeau. As we get closer to 2019, Ottawa has flipped into election mode according to Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics. Johnson also believes the issue of competitiveness will… Read more »
Trade, climate change, and election strategy – just another day for CFA’s Ron Bonnett
It’s difficult to know where to start when you talk with Rob Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Bonnett always has a full plate, and the closing weeks of November are no different as his organization tends a hot stove stoked with issues ranging from trade to climate change and a coming… Read more »
MacAulay leads troop to inaugural Chinese International Import Expo
Brand new this year, China will be hosting its International Import Expo (CIIE). Ministers and trade partners from all over the world will be at this event, which is partnered with the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Organizers say the aim for the… Read more »
Minister Carr to meet with Manitoba producers
The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, will be in Manitoba November 1. His trip is part of the federal trade diversification strategy that connects “innovative, ambitious and hard-working Canadians” to more global markets. In downtown Winnipeg, the Taste of Trade event will take place in which Carr will meet with agricultural producers, food… Read more »
Saskatchewan moves forward with its Prairie Resilience climate plan
Legislation to enable the Saskatchewan government’s climate strategy was introduced in the provincial legislature Tuesday. This will allow components of Prairie Resilience, the province’s climate strategy plan, to move forward. Bill 132, the Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Amendment Act, implements the regulatory framework required to establish performance standards to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions,… Read more »
‘Like-minded’ WTO members seek to shore up international trading conventions
A group of self described ‘like-minded’ World Trade Organization (WTO) members met in Ottawa this week. The WTO reform was hosted by Jim Carr, minister of international trade diversification for Canada. Not included in this ‘like-minded’ group was Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner, the U.S. China also not included. The meeting, which took… Read more »
Federal carbon tax plan roll out: What will it cost your farm?
The Trudeau government announced its plan for a federal carbon tax policy on Tuesday. It’s a move many saw coming, but some are already criticizing for the lack of transparency from the start. To break it down, as part of the federal plan, those provinces who don’t have a plan up to the Liberal’s standards… Read more »
MacAulay embarks on EU tour after completing Canadian agri-food tour
As one tour comes to an end, another one begins. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay has ended his cross-Canada tour dubbed “Growing Canadian Agriculture.” For the duration of the second part of the tour, MacAulay went from west to east meeting with various farmers, processors, and industry leaders. He also took part in… Read more »
Manitoba sticks to carbon plan, despite impending federal tax
It looks like the Manitoba government will join the fight to oppose the federal carbon tax plan by sticking with its own Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan that does not specifically put a price on carbon. Other provinces already moving ahead with their own plan include Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario. In a news release, Manitoba… Read more »
Signed, sealed, delivered: A breakdown of USMCA for agriculture
The 25-year-old trade deal known as NAFTA is no more. As of Sunday night, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement know as USMCA was born. So what does this mean for producers? Let us break it down for you… Increased market access for American dairy farmers So far, market access into the Canadian dairy sector has been… Read more »
New trade agreement reached by Canada, U.S., and Mexico
Canada has reached an 11th hour trilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico. The new deal is dubbed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Multiple media outlets say Canada’s dairy sector will see changes, with American dairy farmers getting more market access at a reported 3.6 per cent. Additionally class 7 pricing will be revamped… Read more »
Scheer: What’s needed for NAFTA, our farmers, and rural Canada
We’re just a year away (or less?) from a federal election, even as deadlines on huge trade deals, such as NAFTA and CPTPP, loom large. As the opposing Conservatives narrow their gap in the polls with the reigning Liberals, Official Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Scheer answers some tough questions on how the Conservatives would be navigating… Read more »
Trump threatens tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing protection of farmers
In a move most knew was on the way, American President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on $200 billion more of Chinese goods as of next Monday. A news release says he’s imposing the new tariffs, “to protect the interest of working men and women, farmers, ranchers, businesses, and our country itself.” Announced September… Read more »