RIVERS, Man. — It was the midway point of the federal election campaign, and Robert Sopuck had already travelled 9,000 kilometres in his riding. The incumbent Conservative candidate is taking nothing for granted in his third campaign, and 55,000 sq. kilometres to cover means he has to stay on the road. He said he was […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Prince Albert candidates square off
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Randy Hoback can look across the street from his campaign office and see a row of orange signs. If Lon Borgerson does the same, he sees blue ones. Neither admits to keeping such close tabs on the competition, but with offices across the street from each other, the Conservative and NDP […] Read more
Canada to pay farmers for any losses under trade deal – minister
OTTAWA — Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz maintains that if the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is signed this week supply managed sectors will be protected. “Not from this government,” he responded during a scrum with reporters after the national agriculture debate Sept. 30 when asked if there was a risk to the sector as negotiations […] Read more
Canada to pay farmers for any losses under trade deal – minister
OTTAWA — Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz maintains that if the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is signed this week supply managed sectors will be protected. “Not from this government,” he responded during a scrum with reporters after the national agriculture debate Sept. 30 when asked if there was a risk to the sector as negotiations […] Read more
Farmer group disputes reports that Canada set to welcome more U.S. dairy products
Saskatoon newsroom A Dairy Farmers of Canada official has cast doubt on reports that Canada has offered more access to American dairy products at the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks. Isabelle Bouchard, director of communications, said the rumours that Canada could grant 10 percent access to U.S. dairy products without equal access for Canadian products into […] Read more
Agricultural issues remain on Goodale’s radar
Former ag minister says he misses contact with rural voters under the redrawn riding that comprises only city voters
For the first time in his long political career, Ralph Goodale is not courting rural voters. The redrawn riding boundaries for the Oct. 19 federal election put Goodale’s Regina-Wascana riding completely within city limits. “I miss it in the sense of campaigning because I’ve always had some kind of rural campaigning in every riding I’ve […] Read moreNDP hopes to regain former stronghold
Nial Kuyek is determined to regain Regina-Qu’Appelle for the NDP. However, he’ll have to defeat House of Commons speaker Andrew Scheer to do it. Scheer won the riding for the Conservatives in 2004, after 25 years of NDP representation, and is determined to retain the seat. He took 53 percent of the vote in 2011, […] Read more
Saskatchewan nixes water diversion plan; other ideas proposed
The Water Security Agency will look at other solutions to control lake levels, including deep well injection
The proposed diversion of water entering the Quill Lakes in northeastern Saskatchewan will not go ahead. Provincial environment minister Herb Cox said Sept. 17 the reaction to the plan to divert water from Kutawagan Creek away from the Quills and into Last Mountain Lake was not positive. About 500 people attended open houses to discuss […] Read moreFormer SWP head on Liberal ticket
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Marvin Wiens is no stranger to politics. But his time on the board and as president of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool was a different political game than the current federal election campaign he is involved in as the Liberal candidate for Cypress Hills-Grasslands. While many historically viewed the pool as the rural […] Read more
Pork council outlines election issues
The Canadian Pork Council last week released its wish list for federal candidates and more particularly the winners of the Oct. 19 vote. Council chair Rick Bergmann said farmers should make sure candidates are aware of agricultural issues. “We create over $13 billion worth of economic activity. With that amount of economic activity we have […] Read more
