Gosselin is the manager for corporate information services at the Canadian Grain Commission. A recent editorial published in The Western Producer, Farmers foot costs from CGC changes (March 12, 2009), contains a number of inaccuracies that require clarification. In particular, it confuses a recent Canadian Grain Commission decision to transition away from on-site inspection services […] Read more
Opinion — page 686
CGC won’t compromise quality – opinion
Soon we’ll have this thing licked – Editorial Notebook
Go ahead and taste this newspaper. In stark contrast to the content, it tastes bland and slightly acidic. Newspapers taste pretty much the same when fresh. You can take my word for that, and chalk it up to insider occupational knowledge. I hasten to add that any flavours acquired after the papers are read at […] Read more
Letters to the editor
Nuclear worry; Asked for funds; Bison cartoon; Strange spending; Beef plan?; Organic markets Nuclear worry As a resident of the North Bend district northeast of Lloydminster, I was stunned to discover that neighbours had recently been approached by Bruce Power for land purchases, the primary target for nuclear reactor sites, not to mention extremely disappointed […] Read more
Lending money in uncertain times – Taking Care of Business
Family income-splitting loans, which can produce significant long-term tax savings, just became more attractive. The Canada Revenue Agency recently announced that effective April 1, the interest rate for family income-splitting loans will drop to one percent. To take advantage of this low interest rate, loans must be locked in between April 1 and June 30. […] Read more
Defaulting their way to success
Remember a few years ago when Canada’s big five English Canadian banks were endlessly whining, whingeing and carping about how they needed to be deregulated and allowed to merge in order to be big, tough and successful like the yankee banks down south? You don’t hear that so much. But as recently as the end […] Read more
Profit and loss in Zambia
This morning I opened the door and almost ran into a young man standing there. “Hello, Madam.” “Do I know you?” No, I didn’t. He proceeded to tell me he was sick and had to go to his village for medicine, and needed help for transportation. He sat down on the step and pulled out […] Read more
News by the numbers – Editorial Notebook
Today this column shamelessly follows a trend that has appeared in other print media. You’ve seen this phenomenon: lists of interesting numbers that have recently appeared, in some context, in the news. We thought we’d give it a try. 90: Percentage of Alberta households that indicated they had purchased local food within the last 12 […] Read more
Letters to the editor
Standing together; Sold out; Compatible policy; Seeing good; Begrudging rain?; Toilet seats; Noxious weeds; Thumbs down; Mail service; Send the cheque; CWB losses; Country song; No starvation Standing together The story Feb. 19 on page 81, “Can organic, conventional producers co-exist?” attempts to paint lines in the sand in order to get a good story. […] Read more
Staying in the game when times are tough – The Bottom Line
There are lots of reasons why new businesses fail. Sometimes though, it’s just a case of losing heart and giving up because things haven’t worked out as hoped. When things are stalled in your new farm enterprise, how long do you wait? When do fortitude and determination turn into folly and a blind refusal to […] Read more
Farmers foot costs from CGC changes – WP editorial
THE END of grain inspection services at primary elevators and the decision to close three regional Canadian Grain Commission service centres present a subtle change to the landscape of the country’s grain handling system. Taken individually, the changes are unlikely to be a focus of mass protest. But when combined with the overall trend of […] Read more
