The Alberta government wants employers to hire provincial residents first before using temporary foreign workers or other options. Alberta Labour Minister Christina Gray recently announced the Employer Liaison Service, a federal-provincial pilot project she said is designed to ensure Albertans are “first in line” when employees are needed. The 24-month pilot program will connect employers […] Read more
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Alberta encourages local hiring as first option
Former U.S. NAFTA negotiator worries about ag trade future
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An uncertain trade environment could have considerable ramifications for agriculture in the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and the U.S. has already abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership. NAFTA has been very positive for U.S. agriculture. Movement of agricultural goods between the […] Read more
Trump gov’t warns officials on trade tariffs
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration had a simple but stark message for world financial officials: fair trade means tit-for-tat tariffs. Speaking to bankers in Washington for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, White House National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn said Washington would get tougher in the trade […] Read more
Farmers may see CGC fee changes by August
Proposed Canada Grain Act regulatory amendments would see two Canadian Grain Commission user fees eliminated and two others reduced by Aug. 1, about seven months ahead of schedule. The measures would save industry millions and limit the accumulation of surplus funds. Consultation had been underway since March 1 on proposed changes to the fees as […] Read more
Public fails to see climate change as threat to fresh water access
Canadians rank the value of fresh water higher than any of the country’s natural resources, but a recent survey shows they don’t know much about this necessity of life. The Royal Bank of Canada’s annual water attitudes survey of about 2,000 people wants to learn more about public attitudes toward water. Conducted since 2009, this […] Read more
Carbon tax not revenue neutral, says analysis
Ottawa could earn up to $280 million over the next two years from the provincial carbon taxes in Alberta and British Columbia, says a report released last week. It means the federal government’s claim that a mandated carbon tax would be revenue neutral is false, said B.C. Conservative MP Mark Warawa, who requested the analysis. […] Read more
New E. coli test more accurate
Scientists have developed a new testing method that detects all known harmful E. coli strains. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service developed the test to detect bacteria that produce the shiga toxin, which causes diarrhea and disease. Xiaohua He, a molecular biologist with the ARS in Albany, California, said the new […] Read more
AG Notes
Applications sought for Nuffied scholarships Applications for the 2018 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarships are due April 30. Application forms can be downloaded from the Nuffield Canada website at www.nuffield.ca. Nuffield Farming Scholarships are awarded to Canadians from any aspect of agriculture and agribusiness with a desire to expand their knowledge, pursue new ideas and share […] Read more
Wheat, oats not included in CFIA glyphosate tests
Canadians wanting to know how much glyphosate is in wheat flour or oatmeal will have to wait until next year. That’s because a recent Canadian Food Inspection Agency survey of glyphosate residues omitted wheat and oats. The CFIA published a report on glyphosate residues in food two weeks ago that tested 3,188 food samples in […] Read more
Morris gets innovation cash
Morris Industries is getting almost $3.5 million from the federal Western Innovation Initiative to help develop and market new technology that will enable the company to increase production capacity and offer new features in its products The Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership will get $700,000 through the federal Western Diversification Program to rent show floor […] Read more
