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The federal government’s offer would increase the cost of the program, make it easier to access while also increasing the size of payouts to farmers.
News

Opinion: Prairie provinces not warming up to AgriStability changes

By
Reading Time: 2 minutes Public pressure is building on provinces still resisting federal changes to AgriStability, notably Manitoba and Saskatchewan. But there are no signs the strategy is working. Meanwhile, the federal government and those provinces in favour of the changes, hope the proposals will be accepted soon. At a Nov. 27 online meeting with her provincial and territorial […] Read more

Foreign workers to lose some travel exemptions in March

By
Reading Time: 2 minutes Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) travelling to Canada won’t need to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel when they get here – for now — but by mid-March, Ottawa will put more stringent measures in place. Starting Feb. 22, non-essential travellers and essential workers arriving in Canada will be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival. Non-essential travellers […] Read more

CFA seeks continued ag support in next federal budget

Federation also presses for Buy Canadian campaign, processing support

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal budget consultations are underway, with agricultural groups lobbying the government to support the industry further in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Jan. 25 launched pre-budget consultations and since then, her schedule has involved several meetings with stakeholders. “We want to hear ideas from Canadians, from all walks of […] Read more
News

Food safety, surveillance focus of new CFIA funding

New trade agreements drive need to monitor imports, help with exports

By
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to spend $162.6 million over the next five years to improve services. Why it matters: CFIA plans to increase its surveillance and oversight programs so it can better respond when new food pathogens, invasive species or other diseases are identified. According to the federal government, the […] Read more
Indonesia has a growing middle class that provides a potential market for Canadian products.
Markets/Business, News

Canada, Indonesia explore trade deal

Broader Southeast Asian pact could have potential

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Canada is exploring a potential trade pact with Indonesia as it continues to seek out deals in the Asia-Pacific region. International Trade Minister Mary Ng made the announcement Jan. 11. Why it matters: Asian-Pacific nations make up one of the largest potential growth markets for Canadian agricultural commodities, especially given the increased […] Read more
Prime Minister Trudeau announced new travel restrictions Jan. 29.
Crops, News

Travel restrictions won’t impact TFWs: federal sources

New restrictions will limit pleasure trips to the Caribbean and Mexico to April

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes New travel restrictions imposed on Canadians by the federal government won’t impact the arrival of temporary or seasonal foreign workers, according to sources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Jan. 29 that Canada’s air carriers had agreed to suspend services to sunny destinations. Flights to tropical locations, like Mexico, are being cancelled by Air Canada, West […] Read more
News

Comment: Vaccines need national co-ordination

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes The federal government should be taking a more assertive position in the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines. When the first batch of vaccines arrived in Canada, Ottawa released recommendations on who should receive the first doses — but the ultimate discretion was left to individual provinces. Recommendations, according to the federal government, were made to […] Read more
Markets

Canada consulting at home toward Indonesia trade deal

Possibility of broader Southeast Asian pact also looms

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes Continuing to seek out free trade deals in the Asia-Pacific region, Canada has launched public consultations on the merits of a potential bilateral pact with Indonesia. “Deepening trade ties with Indonesia would benefit Canadian businesses of all sizes and lead to economic growth and prosperity for years to come,” International Trade Minister Mary Ng said […] Read more
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.
News

Managing COVID, female leadership and the climate plan

Federal agriculture minister looks ahead to 2021 and back through a challenging 2020

By
Reading Time: 4 minutes Questions and answers have been edited for length. Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau recently talked to Glacier FarmMedia Ottawa reporter D.C. Fraser in a year-end interview. Looking back at the year, what was the biggest personal challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic for you? Trying to identify those who were the most in […] Read more
Political failings mean AgriStability likely won’t see changes until 2023.
News

Comment: Producers biggest losers of slow RMP talks

By
Reading Time: 3 minutes Politicians from different levels of government and party stripe continue to debate how to improve Canada’s business risk management programs – but already, producers have lost. Finger-pointing among elected officials began almost as soon as the latest round of federal-provincial-territorial agriculture minister meetings ended with no consensus on changes to business risk managements (BRM) programming […] Read more

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