B.C. Greens seek limits on foreign ownership of farmland

The party holding the balance of power in British Columbia's legislature wants to curb foreign ownership of farmland in the province's Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Green Party leader Andrew Weaver on Thursday introduced the Property Law Amendment Act as a private member's bill, which he said "would prohibit foreign entities from purchasing ALR land over[...]

Green jobs eligible for wage subsidy

A new Career Focus Green Jobs program is offering wage subsidies to help employers with an environmental focus hire new graduates, a federal release says. The program targets small- and medium-sized businesses to help reduce the cost barriers of hiring new graduates by subsidizing their salary by 50 per cent to a maximum of $13,500[...]


Ontario to host plant for U.S. lactose-free milk maker

A lactose-free milk brand distributed by Coca-Cola will be produced at a new dairy processing plant to be built at Peterborough, Ont. by early 2020. The facility's first product will be Fairlife Ultrafiltered Milk, a lactose-free product billed as providing 50 per cent more protein and 50 per cent less sugar than traditional milk. Canada[...]

Ontario ag minister downed in Tories' election win

The Ontario Liberals' minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs is among the election-night casualties as the province's Progressive Conservatives get set to form a majority government. As of midnight CT Friday, Doug Ford's Tories were elected or leading in 76 of 124 ridings, followed by Andrea Horwath's New Democrats in 40 and Kathleen Wynne's[...]


Feds pledge funds for organic standards review

A review and update of Canada's organic standards for compliance with international norms will get federal funding to make sure it's complete by its 2020 deadline. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced the government will foot the "necessary funds" to the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to cover the cost of the 2020 Canadian[...]

Canola biodiesel processor in receivership

An eastern Saskatchewan biodiesel processor using growers' heated, green, spring-harvested, tough and otherwise off-spec canola for feedstock is in receivership. Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday appointed Calgary-based insolvency trustee Hardie and Kelly as the receiver for Milligan Biofuels, which operates at Foam Lake, about 90 km northwest of Yorkton. Alberta's Crown lending agency[...]


B.C. MP named NDP ag critic in shadow cabinet shuffle

The federal New Democrats have picked a rookie MP and small farm owner from southern Vancouver Island's Cowichan Valley as their new lead critic for agriculture. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on Thursday named Alistair MacGregor as critic for agriculture and agri-food, a role in which he'll also serve as second vice-chair of the Commons standing[...]

Aurora, CanniMed to form Canadian weed giant

Two major players in the Canadian medical marijuana market are set to create one of the world's biggest pot production firms in a friendly $1.1 billion cash-and-stock deal. Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis announced an agreement Wednesday in which it will ante up on its previous hostile bid for CanniMed Therapeutics and buy all the shares of[...]


Few stand for Ontario vegetable board elections

Ontario's 450-odd processing vegetable growers have put up just three people to fill four open spots on the board of their marketing organization. The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) on Friday announced the results from an election meeting for two District 1 directors, held Thursday evening in Chatham. Tomato and bean grower David Epp of[...]

Film director Cameron backing Saskatchewan organic pea plant

A major new pulse plant has set up shop southwest of Saskatoon with plans to help back development of pulse-based foods and mentor organic growers -- and bringing with it a pair of unusually high-profile investors. Verdient Foods on Monday announced the opening of a pulse food processing plant at Vanscoy, Sask., with plans for[...]