Australia has incited an international debate about food inspection and safety by proposing to turn the main responsibility for meat inspection in export-oriented plants over to the packers themselves. “We see this as a way to move down the path of improving the quality of our product,” said Paul Morris, agricultural counsellor at the Australian […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Does government see any future for agriculture?
Late last year when researchers hired by Agriculture Canada checked out the voter mood in farming country, they found an undercurrent of pessimism. The pessimism Earnscliffe Research reported was more fundamental than fears of falling incomes. Farmers were worried that their chosen business and lifestyle was falling out of favor. There were “undercurrents of fear […] Read more
Vanclief completes long journey to cabinet ranks
Around 11:30 a.m., June 11, Ontario farmer-politician Lyle Vanclief stood in Government House, the residence of the Governor General, and read words he has dreamed about for years. “I, Lyle Vanclief, do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will truly and faithfully and to the best of my skill and knowledge, execute the […] Read more
New agriculture minister expects few changes
In his first days on the job, agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief made an effort not to raise too many expectations. “I’m going to take a look at everything but I don’t see any major changes,” he said moments after emerging into the sunlight from Government House, where he was sworn in June 11 as Canada’s […] Read more
New ag minister says he still has big job in West
After waiting this long for the job, newly appointed agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief is not about to let anyone suggest he was shortchanged. It is true that in the new federal cabinet, western grain issues and the Canadian Wheat Board have been pared from his empire. But he bristles at any suggestion that this makes […] Read more
What if elections were based on popular vote?
Imagine a House of Commons that actually looked the way voters wanted it to look when they cast their collective ballots. On a national basis, instead of the current breakdown – Liberals, 155; Reform, 60; Bloc QuŽbecois, 44; NDP, 21; Progressive Conservative, 20; Independent, 1 – the new House of Commons would look like this: […] Read more
New justice minister stands by gun law
There is no government intention to change the contentious gun registration plan, Edmonton lawyer and new federal justice minister Anne McLellan said last week, moments after inheriting responsibility for the gun control file. She told reporters she sees no reason to back away from the law which critics say cost Liberals seats in the rural […] Read more
Pasta makers anticipate flood of Italian imports
The Canadian pasta industry is facing unrestricted competition this summer from dumped and subsidized Italian pasta and an industry spokesperson says imports likely will climb. In early June, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal reaffirmed an earlier ruling that record-high imports from Italy do not hurt domestic manufacturers. The effect of the decision was to end, […] Read more
OTTAWA NOTES
Late last week, a Manitoba judge was overseeing a vote recount that will settle officially the victor in the only western seat still under dispute from the June 2 election. In the Manitoba riding of Selkirk-Interlake, Reform candidate Howard Hilstrom ended election night 52 votes ahead of Liberal Jon Gerrard, who was a junior minister […] Read more
Nutrition information on labels urged
Health Canada should change the law in order to force food manufacturers to include nutrition information on labels, a coalition of health, nutrition and consumer advocates said last week. Nutrition labeling has been required in the United States since 1994. The advocates told an Ottawa news conference June 10 that better labeling information would help […] Read more
