A federal agricultural committee report is recommending more investment and less regulation to spur the Canadian processing sector. Between November 2020 and February 2021, the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food studied measures to increase Canada’s processing capacity, hearing from dozens of witnesses. The result is 18 recommendations largely focusing on financial investments and policy […] Read more
D.C. Fraser
Stories by D.C. Fraser
Space and agriculture meet on social media in AMA event
The Canadian Space Agency recently joined Agriculture Canada on the social media forum Reddit to answer questions from the public about “how space helps agriculture.” On May 5, nearly 200 people took part in the session. A CSA official kicked off the event by answering the broad question of how space helps agriculture, writing about […] Read more
U.S., Canada have challenge selling green policies to farmers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United States President Joe Biden are fighting the same fight — to get farmers on board with ambitious climate plans. Industry groups in both countries say efforts are already being made to reduce emissions. That is true in many instances, but as was pointed out in a recent Canadian Agri-Food […] Read more
EU trade deal defended; complaints continue
Promoters of the agreement point to increased trade, but there are ongoing concerns over the pact’s implementation
Canada’s international trade minister said the country’s free trade deal with the European Union is working as intended. Mary Ng, Canada’s minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, made the comments in a joint-statement with the European Commission. European officials met virtually with Ng in March to discuss progress of the implementing the […] Read more
Budget has similarities with Barton report
The 2021 federal budget’s priorities are in step with those found in the much-lauded Barton report released a few years ago that said agriculture should be a pillar of Canada’s economic growth. Anne McLellan, a senior adviser at Bennett Jones and a former federal cabinet minister, made the comparison between the documents during a Canadian […] Read more
NDP introduces soil health bill
A law being introduced by the NDP vows to help fight food insecurity and support farmers. MP and NDP agriculture critic Alistair MacGregor introduced a private member’s bill to create a National Soil Health Strategy for Canada. The law would help maintain, enhance and rebuild the capacity of soils, according to the NDP. “Healthy soils […] Read more
MP’s bill targets rural crime with harsher sentences
A Conservative MP is trying to tackle rural crime by introducing a law that would punish more severely those accused of targeting remote and vulnerable people or property. Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins brought his proposed law to parliamentarians on April 20. “Rural Canadians too often don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many have […] Read more
Budget is big step for supporting farmers, but more needed
The 2021 budget takes a gigantic step in supporting farmers against climate change, but more is still required. Much of what we saw in Chrystia Freeland’s long-awaited first budget was in line with the green investments telegraphed by the Liberals in the weeks leading up to April 19. Because a significant debate around carbon pricing […] Read more
MP introduces bill to tackle rural crime
A Conservative MP is trying to tackle rural crime by introducing a law that would punish more severely those accused of targeting remote and vulnerable, people or property. Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins brought his proposed law to parliamentarians on April 20. “Rural Canadians too often don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many have […] Read more
Budget to pay farmers for carbon pricing, green funding
New spending totalling $104.1 billion in the recently announced federal budget is designed to support farmers combatting climate change. Some producers will also receive direct payments as a result of carbon pricing. Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the budget April 19, showing the majority of new spending will take place over three years and […] Read more
