The countdown to the next federal election begins as MPs headed back to Ottawa this week, bringing with it a political agenda designed to divide parties and wrap up lingering files.
Most anticipate that security and the economy will dominate much of Ottawa’s mainstream discussions in the coming months, thanks to tumbling oil prices and ongoing international concern about terrorism.
After all, the Conservatives have already said they will table their latest security bill Jan. 30, while the NDP plans to use its opposition day Jan. 27 to talk about the state of the middle class.
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Still, that doesn’t mean agriculture won’t weasel its way onto the political agenda, too.
The Senate agriculture committee returned Jan. 26 and immediately began tackling Bill C-18. The controversial Agricultural Growth Act, which passed in the House of Commons last fall, minus the support of the NDP, would see Canada sign onto UPOV 91. It is expected to gain royal assent in time for the coming crop year.
As well, after nearly two years of detailed study, the Senate agriculture committee is expected to release its report on bee health. The highly anticipated report was supposed to be made public in December, but its release was delayed to accommodate a committee trip to Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency is not expected to release its interim report until later this year, but bee health will remain on the provincial political roster as Ontario moves forward with its plan to reduce exposure by 80 percent by 2017.
That pledge has angered Ontario grain farmers, some of whom reportedly walked out of a meeting on the proposed bee health plan with the provincial agriculture minister Jeff Leal in December. Grain Farmers of Ontario has said it will develop its own bee health plan, while consultations between the province and other stakeholders continue.
Bee health is expected to be raised at the upcoming Council of the Federation meeting of the country’s premiers Jan. 30 in Ottawa. In a recent letter, Ontario and Quebec beekeepers demanded that Ontario premier Kathleen Wynn and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard meet on the issue and continue to put pressure on the federal government to act.
Interprovincial trade is also expected to make its way onto the premiers’ agenda this week. The longstanding issue has garnered increased attention recently, with the federal government pledging to move forward on the issue in the lead up to the next election.
Added attention will be given to the Trans–Pacific Partnership negotiations.
U.S. president Barack Obama promised in his Jan. 20 state of the union address to secure the much needed fast-track promotion authority, and Inside Trade is now reporting that the U.S. Senate will table a bill seeking the critical authority by the end of February. The United States has said it hopes to finalize negotiations in the next two months.
Back at home, rail transportation will continue to haunt politicos and industry alike.
The Canadian Transportation Agency review is set to wrap up in 2015. The review, which has been touted as the solution to age-old frustrations, must finish before federal emergency legislation expires in 2016. All eyes will also be on whether Ottawa decides to extend movement of minimum grain volumes for a third time.
Dialogue between parties continues, with several panels on grain and rail transportation scheduled at various agriculture and railway conferences in Ottawa in the coming months.
Also on the political agenda this winter are federal efforts to meet consumer demands. Consultations on new food labels, put forward last summer, wrapped up in the fall. Health Canada has not said when it expects to release the final version of the food labels, which would see more emphasis placed on portion sizes and sugar content.
As for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, its modernization continues under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. Food safety is set to become an election issue as consumer demands continue to mount for more information about where their food comes from.Â
As well, the federal government is expected to release new animal transportation rules after years of drafting and consultation. Sources could only say that the new rules are coming “soon,” but several folks close to the file have indicated the changes will be met with controversy.
