Farmers outside of supply managed commodities are praising the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to modernize NAFTA. Stability of markets is important for trading commodities and a completed North American trade deal will help remove concerns about potential change in the market. “This agreement ensures that the existing strong trade relationship between Canada, the U.S. and […] Read more
Tag Archives politics — page 28
Grains, hog farmers praise trade deal
DFC hits back at politicians over dairy losses in trade deal
The Dairy Farmers of Canada is expressing angry discontent at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is expressing its strong disappointment in the concessions given to the U.S. in the new USMCA trade agreement. “The announced concessions on dairy in the new USMCA deal demonstrates once again that the Canadian government is willing to sacrifice our domestic dairy production when it comes time to make a […] Read more
Opinion: Trade issues in spotlight as parliamentary session begins
Capital Letters: There's no shortage of uncertainty when it comes to global trade
As members of Parliament returned to Ottawa for the start of the fall sitting, trade is on everybody’s mind. Two of the world’s largest economies, the United States and China, are fighting an ongoing trade war and Canada finds itself caught in the middle. The U.S. is our largest trading partner. The connection between our […] Read more
Ontario government caps minimum wage increases
Horticulture sector praises cap, but say some damage already done
The Ontario government has frozen Ontario’s minimum wage at $14, bringing praise from fruit and vegetable growers. Fruit and vegetable growers, especially, have been hard hit by the former Liberal government’s increase of minimum wage from $11.60 per hour to $14 per hour on Jan. 1, 2018. Why it matters: Increasing minimum wage by close […] Read more
Editorial: Yes, a food policy for Canada still has a chance
The creation of a national food policy for Canada is a daunting task, full of practical and political pitfalls — likely why no federal government has tackled it before to any extent. I recently waded through the summary of public comments on a food policy released in early September by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It […] Read more
Opinion: Feds likely to face tough time getting provinces’ support
Capital Letters: The political landscape is quite different from what the Liberals were elected into in 2015
Battles between the federal government and the provinces aren’t new. First ministers’ meetings have always been venues where numerous fights and disagreements arose between Ottawa and its provincial and territorial counterparts. In Ottawa circles, analogies to describe the meetings include the prime minister being “thrown into the lion’s den” as provincial leaders clamour to bring […] Read more
Food policy consultations reveal challenges of creating national direction
The next steps, not yet known, will be important to the success of the program, says CFA president
The public is more concerned with conserving environmental health and ensuring access to affordable food, versus growing more of it, according to public consultations on Canada’s Food Policy. The results of a long public consultation process were released recently and show the challenges that the federal government will have in creating A Food Policy for Canada, […] Read more
Opinion: Fall economic update could send important signals
Capital Letters: Morneau’s fiscal update will have to reassure Canadians
In less than a month, MPs will return to the nation’s capital from their summer vacations and settle back into the routine of passing legislation, holding committee hearings and meeting with lobbyists and industry representatives. The fall session is always a busy time, with MPs eager to get back into the Ottawa swing of things. […] Read more
Horticultural industry trying to rally support for seasonal worker program
The Ontario horticultural industry is trying to drum up support for a long-standing program that allows growers who face labour shortages to hire seasonal workers from Mexico and the Caribbean. The Fairness for Growers Campaign is designed to provide information about the benefits of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). The website also provides a place where […] Read more
Tariff relief for Canada’s farmers at issue in Quebec election
Montreal |Reuters – Quebec farmers want further relief from a global tariff dispute ahead of Oct. 1 elections in the mostly French-speaking Canadian province, which has seen a recent rise in nationalist sentiment. Quebec’s ruling Liberals, centrists but separate from the federal Liberal party, launched their campaign on Thursday. They trail in polls behind the center-right Coalition Avenir Quebec […] Read more
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