Feb 6 (Reuters) – The Canadian Competition Bureau said on Thursday it was investigating certain agriculture companies for alleged anticompetitive practices over allegations of trying to block an online farm-supply startup from doing business in Western Canada. The regulator did not provide details on specific companies involved in the probe, but court documents filed on […] Read more
Stories by Kelsey Johnson
Canadian canola harvest expected to drop 4.8 percent, the smallest in four years
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian canola production is expected to fall 4.8 percent to 19.4 million tonnes in 2019 despite higher yields, Statistics Canada said this week in a survey based in part on satellite and agroclimatic data, making it the smallest harvested canola crop anticipated in four years. Canola yields are expected to jump 3.8 […] Read more
Parliament Hill writer hangs ‘closed’ sign on column
They say all good things must come to an end. Sadly, this column is one of them. After more than six years with iPolitics and five years of writing a column for The Western Producer, I am moving on to a new gig with Thomson Reuters in Ottawa as an economics reporter starting May 21. […] Read more
Canada caught in the middle of an international trade war
A global trade war between two of the world’s biggest economies shows no signs of slowing down and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted Canada is caught in the middle. On May 13, Beijing announced it would impose new tariffs on US$60 billion worth of American goods, including a host of agricultural goods, effective June […] Read more
Controlling African swine fever becomes international effort
At a time of frosty diplomatic relations and continued trade disputes, the world’s top animal health experts, industry and governments are banding together to fight a deadly hog virus. More than 150 officials from some 15 countries descended on Ottawa at the end of April for a global forum on African swine fever. Their goal: […] Read more
Feds under increasing pressure to do something on canola
Canada’s canola conundrum with China dominated question period April 29 as Conservative members of Parliament demanded the Trudeau government do more to resolve the ongoing trade feud. As well, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, a Saskatchewan MP, told reporters the canola issue should be taken to the World Trade Organization. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should also […] Read more
U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s ratification chances get slimmer
The chances of the United States–Canada–Mexico Agreement being ratified before the next Canadian federal election have likely slumped after a new American commission report found the deal would have a moderate impact on the American economy . The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) released its highly anticipated analysis of the pending trade agreement on April […] Read more
Notre Dame fire highlights importance of national treasures
An iconic Paris landmark is burning as I write this. Angry orange flames are torching the historic walls of Notre Dame cathedral, and thick plumes of smoke are choking out the building’s history, one puff after another. Collective gasps of horror can be heard around the world as spectators watch the furious images — an […] Read more
Farmers need to translate their world into city language
From a young age, children are taught that words matter. They are repeatedly told that they should “use their words” and that the best stories are ones told in a language their audience (their parents, teachers, siblings, classmates) can understand. These same communication rules apply to the agriculture industry. For years, the sector has been […] Read more
Feds try to keep politics out of China-canola controversy
Politics were in full swing April 1 as Members of Parliament returned to the House of Commons for two full sitting weeks. The Ottawa bubble remains obsessed with the SNC Lavalin story after former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould tabled additional documents with the clerk of the House justice committee on March 29. That submission included […] Read more
