Vancouver MP Jody Wilson-Raybould’s exit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet has led to a mini-shuffle and a new federal minister for agriculture and agri-food. Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for the Quebec riding of Compton-Stanstead since 2015, replaced Lawrence MacAulay as agriculture minister on Friday, becoming the first woman to handle the ag portfolio. MacAulay, the […] Read more
Tag Archives agri-food — page 3

Mini-shuffle includes new federal agriculture minister

A plateful of advice offered in new national food guide
But that plate has less meat, more plant-based protein, and water is the ‘drink of choice’
“Don’t see a lot of meat or dairy!” That tweet from Simon Somogyi, Arrell Chair in the Business of Food at University of Guelph food expert summed up the reaction of many farm groups in the country following the unveiling of the revamped Canada’s Food Guide. As expected, Health Canada’s new edition of the guide […] Read more

Setting the table for agri-food growth
Government and industry have roles to play in order to meet aggressive sector export goals
Does Canadian agriculture need an Own the Podium strategy? The Economic Strategy Table on Agri-Food thinks it’s an idea to examine. Lee Moats, a Riceton, Sask., farmer who was part of the economic strategy process for agriculture, says the idea of focusing resources where they can have largest impact makes sense to reach the lofty […] Read more

Recruiting outside of ag schools
New-graduate program brings in aggies and non-aggies
A program that linked new graduates, many from non-agriculture programs, with agriculture companies, could provide lessons to the sector in how to recruit new employees. Why it matters: The agriculture industry has a chronic shortage of workers, with the University of Guelph reporting that each of its graduates usually has four jobs waiting for them. […] Read more

Breaking down barriers to export success
Bringing more small and medium-sized businesses to where they are comfortable exporting can help drive agri-food growth
Canadian agriculture has huge opportunity, but the heavy lifting to meet a federal government goal of increasing exports to $75 billion by 2025, has barely begun. A recent gathering of agri-food policy influencers heard that areas that need work across the sector include: Finding enough skilled labour to meet the goal Governments that can communicate […] Read more

Guelph to host new agri-food accelerator
The University of Guelph has created a new organization to help launch agri-food ideas and innovations. Accelerator Guelph aims to provide business training, help create networks and provide a process to innovators in agriculture and food at the university. Why does it matter? Getting research and great ideas from university researchers to the market has […] Read more

Officials aim to forge ahead with TPP as Canada wavers
Tokyo | Reuters — As trade officials gather in Tokyo this week to try and forge ahead with a trade pact that U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned last year, the new 11-member club risks getting bogged down by resistance from Canada. The member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), also […] Read more

Most of farm file’s handlers to return to Commons
Most federal parliamentarians with experience in the agriculture and agri-food portfolio will be back in the House of Commons under a new majority Liberal government. As of Tuesday morning, prime minister-elect Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were elected or leading in 184 of 338 seats, for a decisive majority following Monday’s federal election. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives return […] Read more