VICTORIA – Manitoba agriculture minister Harry Enns came away from a meeting with his federal counterpart last week uneasy that Manitoba may be shafted on how seaway pooling adjustment funds are divided. Along with Manitoba farm leaders, Enns worries that Sask-atchewan will get an undue share of the $105 million in federal money meant to […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Agriculture committee urges against favoritism
OTTAWA – The House of Commons agriculture committee has urged the government to be “balanced” and transparent when it sets a policy this summer on how to sell its rail car fleet. In a letter to transport minister David Anderson, the committee reported nervousness among farmers and other shippers that the government might be favoring […] Read more
Rural Canada wants national leadership, support
OTTAWA – The federal government must do more to make it clear that rural issues are important to national policy makers, a group of rural development specialists told MPs recently. They urged federal support for creation of national or regional rural policy institutes that can study and propose policies and projects to keep rural areas […] Read more
Some premiers may have visions of 11 Canadas
Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard had on his “why Canada has failed me” face. It was the end of the recent First Ministers’ meeting in Ottawa and Bouchard was telling reporters there had been some progress. He actually had shared some laughs with the other premiers. “That is the paradox of Canada,” he said. “I like […] Read more
Time ticks down for wheat board decision
SASKATOON – Ralph Goodale’s options on how to deal with the Canadian Wheat Board controversy began to shrink dramatically this week. For months, he has been fending off demands for policy decisions on the wheat board by counseling patience until the report from the grain marketing panel is complete. This week, he is supposed to […] Read more
Deal for transferring seaway to private group nearly done
SASKATOON – Within a few weeks, a coalition of seaway users expects to announce a deal with the federal government to transfer operation of the Canadian portion of the eastern waterway to private hands. It will mean the dissolution of the 42-year-old St. Lawrence Seaway Authority crown corporation and transfer of its operating authority to […] Read more
Government fails to say how car sale will fix system
OTTAWA – Ask Transport Canada why it believes alternative ownership of a 13,000 rail car grain hopper fleet will make the system more efficient and it will answer something like this: Because. That was the essence of a letter from transport minister David Anderson to the Commons transport and agriculture committees. When Anderson appeared before […] Read more
Canada, U.S. explore joint seaway management
SASKATOON – American officials are looking warily northward as Canada prepares to shift operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway into private hands. At the same time, officials and politicians from the two countries are beginning to discuss a possible deal to have the two countries operate the seaway jointly, with the same set of rules […] Read more
Farm Credit Corp. turns profit
OTTAWA – For the second consecutive year, the Farm Credit Corporation made enough money to give some of it back to the Canadian government. In the year ended March 31, it made a profit of $40.4 million. Next September, it will pay a $2.7 #million dividend to the federal government, which over the years has […] Read more
Liberals shocked at politician who has principles
Last week, when Saskatchewan Liberal Senator, businessman and farmer Herb Sparrow stood in the Senate to be counted, he unleashed forces that threw the federal government into a panic. Sparrow, 28 years in the Senate as a loyal Liberal, had voted with the Conservatives to kill a government bill. His vote was pivotal, producing a […] Read more
