Barry Wilson

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

It was the budget speech that several generations of finance ministers could only dream of delivering. Last week, finance minister Paul Martin announced the first balanced budget in 28 years, predicted at least two more years of balanced budgets and debt pay-down, and a bevy of spending programs and selective tax cuts. “Let me simply […] Read more

Federal health minister Allan Rock last week promised to do what he can to preserve the rural health-care system, in the face of reports that hospitals are closing, doctors are leaving and rural services do not match urban services. He is appointing an executive director of rural health to advise him. “The executive director of […] Read more

Olds College and the CIBC, one of Canada’s major banks, have signed an agreement worth $158,000 to set up an agribusiness centre. The centre, located on the college campus, will train agricultural lenders, rural small business managers, producers and agricultural entrepreneurs. This is the first program of its kind in Canada, said a news release. […] Read more

Keller elected president The Canada West Equipment Dealers Association has elected a new president and board for 1998. Terry Keller, of Agripower Equipment Ltd. in Kindersley, Sask., is the new president and will oversee construction of a new office complex for the association in Calgary. The executive committee also includes past-president G. Gale Holroyd, first […] Read more

Canadian Wheat Board minister Ralph Goodale last week urged senators to quickly deal with his legislation to reform the board and then quickly found out the bill will not have a smooth ride through the Senate. Goodale appeared before the Senate agriculture committee Feb. 26 to open his defence of the bill and immediately raised […] Read more

Senators last week gave Canadian Wheat Board reform legislation quick approval-in-principle, and then vowed to start tinkering. After mid-March, the Senate agriculture committee heads west for hearings across the Prairies. Critics of the legislation are lining up for time at the microphones. “Many are looking to the Senate to amend the bill, and from entirely […] Read more

With speculation at last week’s Canadian Federation of Agriculture meeting that president Jack Wilkinson would soon step up, thoughts were turning to his likely successor. If Wilkinson wins the May contest in Manila, The Philippines to become president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, will Manitoba turkey producer Bob Friesen be the “hair”-apparent? Wilkinson, […] Read more

If the Canadian Federation of Agriculture represents mainstream farmer opinion in Canada these days, the federal Liberal government has a problem. It is not trusted. It is seen as not caring about farmers. “We are dealing with a government that is very close to spinning its wheels when it comes to agriculture,” CFA vice-president and […] Read more

The Canadian government would not sign an international agreement on investment rules if there was any danger it would undermine farm product marketing boards, say senior government officials. Critics of a proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment have warned that protection for investors could give foreign corporations leverage to challenge restrictions imposed by single-desk selling agencies. […] Read more