The World Trade Organization has ruled against the United States once again in the ongoing dispute over American country of origin meat labeling (COOL) rules. Implemented in 2008, the Canadian government says COOL is costing Canadian cattle and hog producers a billion dollars per year. Legal Fight Against COOL Remains Alive, With WTO Ruling Coming… Read More
Tag: Gerry Ritz
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today completed a trade mission to China and India to open new markets for Canadian farmers and agriculture industries. Of particular note, Minister Ritz met with China’s Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu to work to secure permanent access for Canadian live cattle valued by industry at $150 million annually once fully… Read More
Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) has filed a lawsuit against the Government of Canada, appealing changes to rail regulations brought forward in Bill C-30 — The Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act. CP Rail names the Canadian Transportation Agency and the Attorney General of Canada in the suit, which was filed with the Federal Court… Read More
Today, in Woodstock, Ontario, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Dave MacKenzie, Member of Parliament for Oxford, announced an investment of $1.6 million to the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA) to help open new export markets for Canadian dairy and small ruminants genetics. Last year, the Canadian dairy, sheep and goat industries generated over $120 million in exports…. Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced details of Bill C-30, the “Fair Rail for Grain Farmers” Act today, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The measures, announced on this first day of the new crop year, include some which are hoped to improve the accountability for grain companies in contracts with an aim to… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the renewal of the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) today. Over $50 million will be available for agricultural investments from 2014-2019 as a part of the renewal. “Our Government remains committed to helping Canadian producers adapt to emerging challenges and market realities,” said Minister Ritz. “The renewed CAAP program will… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced Monday, May 5, 2014, that the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act (Bill C-30) passed third reading in the House of Commons and has been referred to the Senate. This legislation aims to put into law measures for Canada’s logistics system to move agricultural products,… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was in Saskatoon today to discuss logistics legislation with stakeholders and industry representatives across the rail supply chain. “The new Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act will put into law clear measures to support the world-class logistics system that gets Canada’s agriculture products and other bulk commodities to market in a… Read More
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – In light of the recent completion of the Canada-South Korean Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced today that he will lead a large delegation of agriculture groups on a trade mission to South Korea. “The agreement, Canada’s very first in Asia, is projected to create thousands of… Read More
Quick negotiations and a tentative agreement earlier this week between CN Rail and the union representing some of its employees was good news earlier for Canada’s supply chain, as it meant avoiding a threatened strike. Upon hearing of the potential for 3,000 workers to strike, Saskatchewan’s Premier Brad Wall wrote Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt,… Read More
The U.S. Senate passed the 956 page, $956.4 billion Farm Bill on Tuesday, following last week’s House approval, and is now awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. The bill has been hugely controversial for many reasons, including Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which remained in the 2014 Farm Bill despite reaction from eight major lobby groups… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today that the government will take action on recommendations from the Crop Logistics Working Group (CLWG), in an effort to increase the competitiveness of the grain supply chain. Immediate actions include both pursuing improvements in reporting frequency through the Grain Monitoring Program and providing an ongoing forum for representatives to… Read More
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand at Brandon’s Ag Days yesterday to announce more than $3.7 million in funding awarded to projects spearheaded by the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA). The funding is targeted at varietal development and to help oat producers sell more of their crop in the global marketplace. POGA will… Read More
This week started out very different from most weeks, as word came that the Minister of Agriculture would be making a “very large announcement” in the afternoon. I shuffled my schedule and packed my gear and braved the cold to be in the audience when ag minister Gerry Ritz announced Bill C-18, the Canadian Agricultural… Read More
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz was on hand at the Canterra Seeds warehouse in Winnipeg, Man., to announce the tabling of Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act. The Act addresses a total of nine areas where Canada’s regulations need “modernizing, amending and streamlining of processes”. While there isn’t a monetary figure attached to… Read More