The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has requested new dispute settlement consultations with Canada under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement (CUSMA or USMCA). Ambassador Katherine Tai says her office has identified additional aspects of Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocation process that it believes are inconsistent with Canada’s obligations after initiating the latest dispute in May 2022…. Read More
Category: Politics
The Atlantic Grains Council, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Grain Growers of Quebec, and Ontario Bean Growers are calling on the federal government to send the estimated $34.1 million paid in fertilizer tariffs up to June 30, 2022 directly to those farmers who paid it. In a press release sent late… Read More
The federal government is looking at options for how to spend $34.1 million to help farmers in Eastern Canada who have been affected by 35 per cent tariffs applied to fertilizer imports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. While the tariff proceeds have been committed by the Canadian government to restoring the power… Read More
After committing $115 million in tariff proceeds to Ukraine, the deputy prime minister says she’s working with the agriculture minister to “resolve the situation” regarding the cost of 35 per cent tariffs applied to fertilizer sold to farms in Eastern Canada. Chrystia Freeland, who is also the finance minister, was asked about the fertilizer tariffs… Read More
Eastern Canadian farmers who paid millions of dollars more for fertilizer in 2022 due to sanctions on imports from Russia will not be getting a refund, as the Canadian government is forwarding $115 million in expected tariff revenues to repair the power grid in Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the… Read More
The Winnipeg MP who served as Canada’s trade minister and as a representative of the Prairies in cabinet has passed away. Jim Carr, 71, passed at his home surrounded by his family and loved ones on December 12, according to a statement issued by his office. He had battled multiple myeloma and kidney failure since… Read More
Where Brazil and Mexico have the potential to emerge as hot markets in the longer term, China is a market that one geopolitical analyst says should be sold to when the opportunity arises, but should not be the centre of a trade strategy. Jacob Shapiro with Cognitive Investments strongly cautions Canada, and the U.S. too,… Read More
Can governments protect valuable farmland while at the same time build housing needed for ever-expanding cities and urban cities? That question is being asked throughout Ontario agriculture this week after the provincial government passed the More Homes Built Faster Act, Bill 23. The legislation has drawn the ire of critics, as Premier Doug Ford moves… Read More
If you follow mainstream media, you’ve likely heard the name Paul Wells. Wells was the lead political columnist at Maclean’s magazine for 19 years. His byline has also cropped up in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and the National Post. His latest endeavour is a Substack subscription newsletter, as well as The Paul Wells… Read More
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
The association that represents farm equipment dealers across Canada is speaking out against a “right-to-repair” private member’s bill that would amend the Copyright Act to allow Canadians to circumvent computer software to diagnose, maintain, or repair a product, whether that’s a phone, a household appliance, a car, or a tractor. Bill C-244 — introduced by… Read More
Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation says he has a list of “good stuff that isn’t finished yet” that he’s planning to tackle following his reappointment to the agriculture post in cabinet by new Premier Danielle Smith. Nate Horner was originally tapped to serve as the province’s agriculture minister by Smith’s predecessor Jason Kenney in… Read More
Nate Horner will remain Alberta’s agriculture minister following the unveiling of new Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet. Horner, the UCP MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, was first appointed minister of agriculture and forestry by former Premier Jason Kenney in November 2021. Under Smith, Horner’s title no longer includes forestry and rural economic development, but irrigation has been tacked… Read More
New Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled his shadow cabinet on Wednesday. As expected, John Barlow (Foothills, Alberta, pictured above) has been tapped to continue in his role as shadow minister for agriculture, agri-food and food security. Barlow is well-versed with the role and agriculture-related issues, having served as the party’s ag critic… Read More
As always, there are plenty of things to talk about when it comes to the going-ons of the world — especially in geopolitics. Jim Wiesemeyer, of Pro Farmer, joined RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney to discuss border towns and COVID-19 restrictions, Biden failed trade policy for agriculture, the next farm bill, upcoming mid-terms, and more…. Read More