Producers on the Prairies are expected to once again support the Conservative Party of Canada . Polling suggests the Conservative vote share could be on the rise, and there is a chance the party sweeps all the seats in Saskatchewan again, this time with a higher share of the vote than in 2019. We’ve seen […] Read more
D.C. Fraser
Stories by D.C. Fraser
Platforms reveal few major differences on ag
Election ’21: The political parties are divided more on cultural issues such as gun control than they are on policy files
As is the case with modern day elections, agriculture is not expected to feature heavily in the political debates being had in advance of Canada’s upcoming vote. Since taking office in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate to farmers his version of the Liberal party can be one that […] Read more
Election platforms reveal few ag differences
As is the case with modern day elections, agriculture is not expected to feature heavily in the political debates being had in advance of Canada’s upcoming vote. Since taking office in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate to farmers his version of the Liberal party can be one that […] Read more
Canadian farmers already familiar with many climate solutions
A new, particularly stark warning about climate change shows Canadian agriculture could be a lighthouse to other nations trying to mitigate greenhouse gasses. Word that global warming is “widespread, rapid and intensifying” has likely spread across the country by now. Yet another report, this one from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), […] Read more
Prairies continue to balk at program improvements
A drought forced the federal and Saskatchewan governments to reach an agreement on AgriStability, but is it a sign of what’s to come? Near the start of August, the two governments agreed to allow Saskatchewan producers early access to the 2021 payments they are entitled to. Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Saskatachewan’s David Marit […] Read more
Retailer code of conduct looms
A report from a federal-provincial working group says the retail sector has levied an increasing number of fees on suppliers and is proposing the formation of a code of conduct as a potential solution. Canada’s agriculture ministers are now calling on industry to lead the process. They had formed the working group to study the […] Read more
Climate change concerns prominent at UN Food Systems pre-summit
Attendees of a recent United Nations event hint that a heightened focus on agriculture and climate change is coming. Held in Rome as well as virtually, the UN Food System Pre-Summit acted as a precursor to the main event scheduled in September. Simply put, the objective of attendees is to launch new strategies to help […] Read more
Drought aid includes tax deferral, AgriRecovery
Ottawa also trying to adjust the AgriInsurance program so that drought-damaged crops can be made available for feed
As the federal government looks to manage impacts of ongoing drought conditions, livestock producers in regions of five provinces are now eligible for a tax deferral program. Minister of Agriculture Marie Claude Bibeau announced last week that producers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario would be eligible for support. “At times like this […] Read more
Saskatchewan, Ottawa never on the same page over climate
Brad Wall was talking like he was going to the moon. It was Oct. 18, 2016, and I was sardined into a small conference room with the rest of the Regina legislative press corps. Wall, then premier of Saskatchewan, had just released an outline of his climate strategy. He was passionate and clearly believed his […] Read more
UN summit releases policy proposals
Ahead of the upcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit, a lengthy list of so-called “game changing” proposals have been released by organizers, including plans for integrating climate plans and developing a “responsible meat” initiative. Taking place in September, many expect the summit to launch new strategies for achieving the international communities 17 development goals. That […] Read more
