OTTAWA – Despite Reform party objections, the House of Commons last week approved new election rules that will create a permanent voters’ list and have the polls closing earlier in Western Canada. Assuming the Senate approves the bill and the next election is not called before the end of April 1997, the next campaign will […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Auditor praises Agriculture Canada
OTTAWA – Agriculture Canada has received high marks from the federal auditor general for the way it organized and carried out payment of the first instalment of the Crow Benefit buyout. Federal government auditor Denis Desautels said the $1.2 billion to 210,000 landowners was sent out under clear rules, with a clearly defined objective and […] Read more
Loss of anti-dumping measures feared by horticultural growers
OTTAWA – Representatives for Canadian fruit and vegetable growers last week told MPs that protections from unfair import competition should be strengthened. In particular, Steve Whitney and John Kuhl of the Canadian Horticultural Council told a House of Commons committee that for dealings with the United States, Canada should rewrite its anti-dumping laws to mirror […] Read more
Farm groups angry at endangered species law
OTTAWA – The government’s proposed endangered species legislation will do more harm than good, farm representatives told MPs last week. At a Parliament Hill hearing, two Alberta ranchers warned the proposed rules may encourage farmers to quietly destroy habitat or species, rather than get caught in the restrictive web of the law. “The legislation in […] Read more
Country split over Chile trade deal
OTTAWA – Once again, Canadian agriculture finds itself divided over the implications of a trade deal, this time the Canada-Chile free trade agreement signed Nov. 18. There is no disagreement about the tariff-reducing parts of the deal, which will give Canadian grain, meat and other products better access to a growing market. Last year, Chile […] Read more
‘Weak’ Canadian dollar has unheralded strengths
In international money markets, there has been a run on the dollar in recent weeks. As a direct result of interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada in early November, the dollar lost three-quarters of a cent against the American dollar over two weeks. To listen to Central Canadian economists, you’d think the sky […] Read more
Ottawa takes steps to pass amendments to labor code
OTTAWA – The federal government moved quickly last week to push Canadian Labor Code amendments over their first parliamentary hurdle and onto the second – public hearings. The Liberal majority voted to send the bill to a committee that will begin public hearings within weeks. Included among the package of changes is a proposal meant […] Read more
Interest in changing FCC mandate fading
OTTAWA – The Farm Credit Corporation continues to ask for a broader mandate to support rural diversification but government promises to provide it appear to have evaporated. A year ago, federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale spoke often of his plans to introduce changes to the FCC legislation, giving it more flexibility. But the topic has […] Read more
Rural body supports controlled markets
OTTAWA – A House of Commons committee studying rural development likely will urge the government to maintain farm products marketing boards as a key ingredient in any rural strategy, says one of the committee members. “I believe support for orderly marketing will be part of our report,” Manitoba Liberal Marlene Cowling said Nov. 21. The […] Read more
Canada’s aid mission off to bumpy beginning
OTTAWA – Like grain futures on a commodity exchange, Canada’s efforts to feed the hungry refugees of Zaire have had their ups and downs in recent days. A high point came last Wednesday when federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale used a speech at the world food summit in Rome to announce Canada’s decision to lead […] Read more
