Canada’s agriculture industry is front and centre in Ottawa’s plan to grow the economy after years of flying under the federal government – and the public’s – radar. Ottawa has challenged farmers and processors to grow their agri-food exports to $75 billion annually by 2025. Current exports hover around $50 billion annually. Wednesday’s federal budget […] Read more
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Sask. budget: PST, land, education farm fuel taxes increased
Rural Saskatchewan is taking its share of the hit in the provincial budget announced March 22. The budget was expected to be tough, considering a continual decline in resource revenue since 2014 that has led to a deficit of at least $1.3 billion. Premier Brad Wall took to social media earlier in the week to […] Read more
Sask. farmers eye next week’s provincial budget
It remains to be seen how Saskatchewan farmers and rural municipalities will be affected by government efforts to balance the provincial budget. But delegates who attended the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities’ annual convention in Saskatoon this week were bracing themselves for the worst. In a March 15 interview, SARM president Ray Orb said he […] Read more
Federal budget targets agricultural trade
UPDATED – Tuesday April 21, 2015 – 1555 CST – Agriculture didn’t rate a mention during federal finance minister Joe Oliver’s April 21 budget speech. However, a look at some of the supporting documents shows Ottawa intends to spend $18.1 million over two years to promote competitiveness and trade opportunities for agricultural products and $12 […] Read more
Farm officials relieved cuts not worse
Saskatchewan farm leaders accepted a 2.5 percent cut to the provincial agriculture budget last week, saying they understand the fiscal pressure of low oil prices. The March 18 budget estimates agricultural spending of $362.4 million in 2015-16, down from $371.6 million last year. “Glad to see there was no tax increases, and a 2.5 percent […] Read more
Sask. budget reduces agriculture spending 2.5 percent
Saskatchewan’s agriculture budget is down 2.5 percent this fiscal year, but agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said farmers shouldn’t feel an impact. The budget, announced March 18, estimates spending of $362.4 million this year. “There is minimal impact on our programs and more importantly on our clients,” the minister said. “We will be offering the same […] Read more
Warning bells sounded following federal budget
It was too much to expect that agriculture would be excluded from federal attempts to deliver a balanced budget in three years. Even though Canada’s deficit of $24.9 billion seems small compared to other western developed nations, it must be dealt with for our long-term economic well-being. In the federal budget announced last week, agriculture […] Read more
