Canada’s Auditor General was highly critical of the federal government’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture in an independent report released on Tuesday. The audit found Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has failed to design, implement and then track plans for how the agriculture sector will contribute to Canada’s 2030 and 2050 greenhouse… Read More
Tag: Lawrence Macaulay
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has announced the appointment of David Hunt as the new chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. Hunt will replace Doug Chorney, whose term expires at the end of April. Chorney chose to not re-apply for the job. Hunt has worked for the Manitoba government since 2007, starting as a… Read More
The federal budget introduced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday featured changes to how capital gains are taxed, as well as federal funding to develop biofuel production and artificial intelligence, but did not mention many topics and programs farm groups were hoping to see addressed. It also included many previously-announced measures, such as the… Read More
Nearly 3,500 livestock producers in Saskatchewan who were eligible for drought assistance through the AgriRecovery program launched last October will be receiving a top-up of up to $50 per head from the federal and provincial governments. Provincial agriculture minister David Marit announced the additional payments during a visit to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association head office… Read More
Canadian farmers have been making plans for the 2024 season assuming that the interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program would revert back to the pre-2022 level of $100,000. As of today, however, farmers will have access to the first $250,000 interest-free, following an announcement by Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The Advance… Read More
The federal government is contributing $3.1 million to further develop the National Index on Agri-Food Performance. A pilot version of the index, which was designed to measure and support marketing around the sustainability of food produced in Canada, was launched in May 2023. As of early 2024, the Centre for Agri-Food Benchmarking, led by executive… Read More
When it comes to Canadian agriculture, criticism towards federal policies and their broader implications is not uncommon. Farmers’ list of grievances reflect legitimate concerns over how this federal government’s bent will shape the sector’s future. However, it’s crucial to differentiate between warranted critique and misplaced outrage. A recent social media post from Agriculture Minister Lawrence… Read More
First announced as the host city in June 2023, the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) in Manila was officially opened this week by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay. The Indo-Pacific region is a key one for Canadian farmers, producers, and the agri-food sector, with Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports to the region totalling $22.8… Read More
If a report is quietly published on a government website on the Friday before the New Year’s weekend and no one is told about it, is anyone supposed to read it or respond to it? Because that’s what happened with the federal government’s “What We Heard” report after holding consultations a year ago on its… Read More
The federal government has extended Doug Chorney’s appointment as the chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. Chorney’s three-year term was to expire in December, but the Governor-in-Council has extended it to April 30, 2024. Chorney, who farms at East Selkirk, Man., has agreed to continue in the role until then. The government sought applications… Read More