Eugene Whelan last week said he agreed not to sue the former Progressive Conservative government when it fired him as an ambassador in 1984, in return for government support of Whelan’s role as chair of the World Food Council. “It was a hell of a way to end a political career,” the former Liberal agriculture […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Pilot plan sees farmers grade own produce
The fruit and vegetable industry last week got some political help for a self-grading experiment aimed at trying to avoid government cost-recovery charges. The Canadian Horticultural Council is organizing a series of pilot projects that would allow farmers to win accreditation to grade their own produce according to government standards. The farmers would have to […] Read more
Women herb growers told to learn the ropes to succeed
It is no surprise women make up the majority of the members of the Alberta Dried Flower and Herb Growers Association, says its vice-president. The small scale of the three-year-old industry draws them, said Katie Benschop, owner of an Edmonton flower business. “It’s like on a farm. The man is on the combine doing big […] Read more
Importers skim off profits, say dairy farmers
Dairy farmers caught prime minister Jean ChrŽtien’s ear two weeks ago as they escalated their campaign to block imports of a butteroil/sugar blend used in ice cream production. The government is allowing it to be imported tariff-free, despite dairy farmer arguments the product was created just to circumvent supply management tariff protection. The farmers insist […] Read more
Food industry pays big bill for cost recovery
The Canadian food industry is hit every year with a $140 million cost recovery bill for government services rendered, according to a report being prepared by Agriculture Canada economists. Brian Paddock, director of economic and industry analysis for the department, is leading a group that is studying the cumulative, cross-government impact of cost recovery on […] Read more
Co-op rule changes await final approval
New legislation to govern Canada’s federally regulated co-operatives requires only the signature of the governor general to become law. The Senate has approved the Canada Co-operatives Act and it is expected to receive Royal Assent soon. But it will not take effect for some months, according to a co-ops official. “I’m telling our members late […] Read more
Farmers should be told what’s at stake in talks
Here we go again. World trade talks are looming on the horizon and Canada is once more preparing to head to the table with very ambiguous goals for the food sector. Are we going as free traders? Protectionists? Both of the above? If you chose (c), collect your points. On the surface, the goal is […] Read more
Inadequate inspection threatens meat safety: council president
Canada’s multi-billion dollar meat industry is sitting on a “time bomb” because not all meat getting to the consumer has been adequately inspected, says the new president of the Canadian Meat Council. Bill Mulock, president of a Toronto company that produces back bacon, said in an interview the problem is the variation in inspection standards […] Read more
Ontario Wheat Board votes to end monopoly
Ontario Wheat Board delegates have voted to experiment with an end to its wheat export monopoly. In a scheme similar to the Reform party proposal to allow farmers to opt out of the Canadian Wheat Board for a set time period, delegates to the Ontario board annual meeting last week voted to give farmers the […] Read more
Senate CWB hearings expect amendments
The Senate agriculture committee heads west in less than two weeks for hearings on Canadian Wheat Board reform and all sides are talking about amendments. Hearings open March 24 in Brandon, Man., move to Regina the next day and Saskatoon March 26. The following week, the committee will travel to Calgary March 31, Edmonton April […] Read more
