Saskatchewan’s climate-change plan is being met with plaudits from oil and agricultural groups, but it will not meet federal requirements and thus will force the Trudeau government to impose a plan on the province that could leave key decisions up to Ottawa rather than the provincial government. That is not a responsible plan. The federal […] Read more
Stories by Western Producer Editorial
On the Prairies, charity goes beyond writing cheques
It is 18 days until Christmas and nine days since Giving Tuesday, a newly designated day designed to encourage charitable giving. That special Tuesday appears to be an American-instigated event that somewhat ironically follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when spending is rampant and remaining discretionary funds are most likely to be in short supply. […] Read more
India’s pea import duty best addressed by closer ties
There is justifiably much concern about India’s sudden decision to impose a 50 percent import duty on peas, leaving Canadian farmers wondering what hit them. While the size of the duty — rather than the policy itself — was a surprise, this is how India works. The government is using import duties available to it […] Read more
‘Buy Local’ OK if voluntary but not when forced by gov’t
Canadian honey producers are being stung by a “buy American” campaign employed by U.S. honey packers. It is vexing that this development is lowering the price that Canadian honey producers get south of the border, but given that the campaign is voluntary, there is little to do. We have examples here in Canada where “buy […] Read more
Election ideal time to hatch new plan on climate change
The Saskatchewan government has now had a look at how other prairie provinces are handling climate-change plans. Rather than following the stance of outgoing Premier Brad Wall, who vowed to go to court to fight a federal order to enact a carbon plan, the candidates vying for leadership of the Saskatchewan Party should consider the […] Read more
Candidate endorsements may not sway vote, but info useful
Endorsements don’t mean much during election campaigns. Witness what happened during the Conservative party leadership race when high-profile candidate Kevin O’Leary, who was leading in the polls, dropped out and endorsed the next-most popular candidate, Maxime Bernier — who then lost the leadership race to Andrew Scheer. The issue of endorsements has emerged during elections […] Read more
New food policy should include input from agricultural experts
To make good decisions, you need good information. Decisions or policies made with limited information or diversity of input often fail when they meet the real world. The Liberal government’s recent attempt at tax reform is a prime example. A superficially attractive desire to make the tax system fairer crashed when it became clear that […] Read more
Food production doesn’t jibe with food security
We have just celebrated Thanksgiving, a time to recognize and appreciate the bounty that nature and human effort have provided to feed our bodies and spirits. In Canada, there is an abundance of food. Indeed, worldwide there is a surplus of the major crops — wheat, corn and soybeans — that depresses crop prices, limits […] Read more
Prairie farmers can strive for protein powerhouse crown
The huge investment in pea processing in Western Canada announced in the past year signals that enormous change is in the works for the pulse industry. A market until now largely focused on supplying ingredients to specific national cuisines is about to expand universally with pulse protein going into a wide range of foods consumed […] Read more
Armed Forces base must take responsibility for devastating fire
It is a case where good fences do not make good neighbours. In the case of Canadian Forces Base Suffield in southern Alberta and the ranchers whose land borders it, good fences have become barriers to amicable relationships. Tensions that date back some 30 or 40 years came to a head the night of Sept. […] Read more
