The first meeting between Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, unsurprisingly, did not result in an agreement on carbon pricing. Saskatchewan continues to oppose a carbon tax and is the only province that hasn’t signed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The province is currently consulting on the climate […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Feds monitoring grain transportation issue closely: Goodale
The federal government is well aware of grain transportation issues in western Canada and is monitoring the situation closely, says Saskatchewan MP and public safety minister Ralph Goodale. But he stopped short of promising an immediate order in council. He said the government is waiting for documentation from both major railways about their plans to […] Read more
‘Shipping season has been a disaster’
OTTAWA — The House of Commons agriculture committee was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting March 7 to discuss the grain transportation backlog, even though Parliament is not sitting this week. Four committee members representing both the Conservative and NDP opposition forced the meeting after delivering a request to the committee clerk March 1. That […] Read more
‘Stand back budget’ disappoints farm groups
Federal budget made changes to passive income initiative, but some call it an overly simplified approach
OTTAWA — Farm leaders say the federal budget announced Feb. 28 is underwhelming as far as agriculture is concerned. After last year’s budget, in which the sector was held up as a shining star of the economy, this year’s fiscal plan hardly mentions it at all. At the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting last […] Read moreSask. ranchers welcome crop insurance changes
As well, contract price option to include barley, commercial canola, oats, hard red spring wheat, durum and CPS wheat
Saskatchewan cattle producers say wildfire coverage and improved predation compensation offered in this year’s crop insurance program provide much-needed added protection. Wildfires devastated more than 88,000 acres of mainly pasture last year and there was no insurance for fire damage, which will likely result in lost productivity. Many organizations had urged Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. […] Read more
Grain movement hearing produces few results
An emergency meeting of the standing committee on agriculture in Ottawa this afternoon has ended with a decision to meet again March 19. Parliament is on a two-week break, but four Conservative and NDP committee members who supported farmers’ calls last week for action on the grain backlog forced the meeting. However, it was mostly […] Read more
CN promises to get grain moving
Canadian National Railway interim president Jean-Jacques Ruest says the company will clear grain backlogs across its network. In a news release issued March 7, Ruest said additional staff and equipment will be deployed. “We apologize for not meeting the expectations of our grain customers, nor our own high standards,” he said. “The entire CN team […] Read more
Farmers demand action on grain transportation
OTTAWA — Canadian grain farmers want a plan to get grain moving within the next two weeks. Representatives from regional and national organizations held a news conference on Parliament Hill yesterday to demand action on the rail bottleneck that threatens a repeat of 2013-14. “Parliament is going to take a two-week break. We need a […] Read more
Pulse growers applaud fumigation agreement with India
Canadian and Indian prime ministers reach a deal that will see countries resolve the issue by the end of the year
The prospect of a resolution to India’s pulse fumigation requirements this calendar year is good news for Canadian pulse growers and exporters, says Pulse Canada chief executive officer Gordon Bacon. An agreement reached last week during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promises the two countries “will […] Read moreSaskatchewan insurance premiums now PST-free
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has made good on his campaign commitment to reinstate the PST exemption on insurance premiums. Effective Feb. 26, premiums for agriculture, life and health insurance will no longer be subject to the provincial sales tax. The move is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2017, when the tax was first applied. Crop, livestock […] Read more
