Trent Thomas has his work cut out for him this week as he goes about his Capitol Hill business as Washington co-ordinator for the R-CALF lobby group. “I am meeting with elected officials and their staff on Capitol Hill next week, urging on them the importance of country-of-origin labelling,” he said May 23. R-CALF and […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Money available in wake of BSE, says Vanclief
The federal government will make sure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has whatever budget it needs to deal with the fallout from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief promised May 26. “There is no lack of resources to do what we need to do,” Vanclief told the House of Commons agriculture committee. “The […] Read more
Prime minister-in-waiting seems short on ag policy – Opinion
THE ongoing federal Liberal leadership race offers the Canadian Federation of Agriculture a last chance to win changes in Ottawa’s safety net program design within the agricultural policy framework. The CFA plans to try to get each of the three candidates – Paul Martin, Sheila Copps and John Manley – to admit flaws in the […] Read more
Canada joins GMO showdown
Canola grower Kenton Ziegler from Beiseker, Alta., figures Ottawa’s decision to challenge European Union restrictions on imports of genetically modified products is as much about the image of his product as it is about reclaiming an old market. On May 14, the federal government said it is joining the United States, Argentina and Egypt in […] Read more
Goodale: Americans should point finger at themselves
Price-depressing and trade-distorting subsidies in the United States and elsewhere, rather than Canadian Wheat Board practices, are the real threat to farm incomes, CWB minister Ralph Goodale said May 14 in an attack on a U.S. challenge of the wheat board. He told the Senate foreign affairs committee that American complaints against the board are […] Read more
Challenge on GM ban applauded, jeered
Canadian reaction broke into familiar camps last week with the news that the Canadian government is joining a challenge to European Union restrictions on imports of genetically modified foods. Some farm leaders welcomed the move as an attack on protectionism. For the past five years, the European Union has had an effective moratorium on approving […] Read more
Ban justified: EU
The European Union insists its restrictions on the import of genetically modified foods are both justified and legal under World Trade Organization rules. The EU reacted swiftly after the United States, supported by Canada, Argentina and Egypt, asked May 14 for WTO consultations over GM restrictions. A dispute settlement panel could be set up as […] Read more
Liberal’s leading candidate leaks some farm policy
Paul Martin, the leading contender to become the next federal Liberal leader in November and prime minister in February 2004, says improved prairie rail competition, more research dollars and capital for value-adding ventures will fix what ails agriculture. Martin said he gets many of his agriculture policy ideas from veteran Saskatoon Liberal Red Williams, a […] Read more
Goodale thinking about name change for CWB
The Canadian Wheat Board may be due for a name change, CWB minister Ralph Goodale mused last week. During a May 14 appearance before the Senate foreign affairs committee to respond to American trade challenges to the board, the minister spent some time explaining that the CWB no longer is the government-controlled crown corporation it […] Read more
CA agriculture critic quits politics for ranch
Call it the call of the cows. Canadian Alliance MP and agriculture critic Howard Hilstrom has decided to leave politics next year to concentrate on his cow-calf operation in Manitoba’s Interlake district. He will not run in the next election, expected in 2004, and soon will be replaced as the chief Alliance agriculture critic. He […] Read more
