Initial payments for Canadian Wheat Board grains probably will increase before the end of the month, CWB minister Ralph Goodale indicated last week. Farmer representatives said Monday higher initial prices would be good news, but they criticized the government’s handling of the issue. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool president Leroy Larsen said there should be no more […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Goodale defies critics with vow to rush wheat board reform
Canadian Wheat Board minister Ralph Goodale last week indicated he will face down his critics by introducing wheat board reform legislation much like the bill that died in the last Parliament. It will create a wheat board with a board of directors two-thirds elected by farmers, more flexibility, some continuing control from Ottawa and a […] Read more
Canada suspends tariff
The United States won a small concession from Canada this week in response to its continuing complaints about impediments to imports of American grain. On Sept. 8, Canada announced it will suspend the small tariff of 23 cents per tonne it has on imports of American barley and barley products. Last year, 84,000 tonnes came […] Read more
Quebec premier lets farmers know who’s the boss
In Quebec, the Union des Producteurs Agricoles is widely considered one of the province’s powerful political voices. A quarter-century ago, the provincial government gave it union status as the official, well-funded voice of farmers. All farmers must belong and pay dues. At times, the provincial agriculture minister has come from UPA ranks. Some provincial journalists […] Read more
EU’s beef ban ruled illegal
The European Union’s eight-year-old ban on Canadian beef imports because many Canadian cattle producers use growth hormones is a violation of international trade law, the World Trade Organization ruled last week. A similar judgment from a WTO trade panel supported American complaints about their exclusion from EU markets. Canadian trade and cattle industry representatives last […] Read more
OTTAWA NOTES
While overall federal government spending is falling this fiscal year, agriculture support spending is increasing, finance department figures show. Government financial results for the first quarter of the year started April 1 indicate that overall spending fell 4.1 percent to $34.1 billion, fueled by cuts in health and welfare spending, employment insurance paring and lower […] Read more
Pasta makers watchful of higher durum prices
LONGUEUIL, Que. – The news from the Prairies last week was not good for Montreal pasta maker Eddy Petaccia. When Statistics Canada predicted that production of durum wheat will be down 11 percent this year because of poor weather, it could mean only one thing for durum users. Higher prices. “We keep an eye on […] Read more
Diversification minister sees major role for agriculture
As the new federal politician assigned the job of encouraging diversification of the western Canadian economy, Ron Duhamel figures he doesn’t have to look far to see the potential. The veteran Manitoba Liberal MP, appointed secretary of state for western economic diversification in the new Liberal government, just has to look beyond the St. Boniface […] Read more
Reform will press for tax cuts this year
When the new Parliament begins to debate the best way to handle budget surpluses, expected to appear in federal finances after 1998, the Reform party plans to lead the charge against government proposals to increase spending. The surpluses should be used to pay down the national debt and reduce taxes, Reform leader Preston Manning said […] Read more
OTTAWA NOTEBOOK
Canada’s new Parliament opens Sept. 22 and the first glimpse of government priorities in its second term will come the next day, prime minister Jean ChrŽtien announced last week. After an Aug. 27 cabinet meeting, he told reporters the Speech from the Throne to set the tone for the 36th Parliament since Confederation will be […] Read more
