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Provinces’ feet held to fire on AgriStability

Ministers' meeting co-chairs push for progress to allow changes to be made retroactive for 2020

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The co-chairs of Canada’s agriculture ministers’ meeting are pushing to get proposed improvements to AgriStability in place sooner than later. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her Ontario counterpart, Ernie Hardeman, “urge all provincial and territorial ministers to support the proposed changes to the AgriStability program,” they said in a joint statement Tuesday. At a
News

Canada Summer Jobs Program open to farmers

Some changes made in response to COVID job losses kept from last year

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Farmers and agricultural businesses can apply for wage subsidies through the Canada Summer Jobs Program until January 29. The program will pay qualifying businesses up to 75 per cent of the provincial minimum hourly wage to provide summer jobs for people between age 15 and 30. Last year public health order closed businesses and put
News

Seymour named watersheds builder

Annual award from Manitoba Association of Watersheds recognizes outstanding contributions

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Murray Seymour has been awarded the 2020 Watershed District Builder Award. The annual award “… recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals directly associated with the growth and success of watershed districts in Manitoba.” Seymour was named this year’s recipient during the Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts virtual conference, held Dec. 8. “My greatest reward was being chair of
Many political and farm leaders in rural communities howl about the evils of “big government” and “socialism” even though big government social programs keep their communities from disappearing.
Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: ‘Why are you giving extreme voices so much attention?’

Taking a break from a long-standing tradition is a sign of the divisive times

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Around this time of year, I usually feature comments from readers whose views differ from those found here the previous 50 or so weeks. At least that’s how it has been for at least 25 years. Not this year, however, because I received a reader email Dec. 9 that asked me to stop highlighting these
News

KAP hires new communications, government relations co-ordinator

Graham Schellenberg previously worked as a provincial policy analyst, communicator

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Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has welcomed Graham Schellenberg as its new communications and government relations co-ordinator. “To continue to learn about (agriculture) and to be involved in such great work is something I’m really excited about,” Schellenberg told the Co-operator. Schellenberg began his job with Keystone Agricultural Producers at the beginning of the month. Prior to joining KAP, Schellenberg worked for the
Markets

Trudeau names new transport, foreign affairs ministers

Garneau to handle foreign policy; Omar Alghabra takes transport

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Ottawa | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named new ministers for foreign affairs and transport on Tuesday ahead of an election that insiders in his Liberal Party say is likely this year. Trudeau’s hand was forced when Innovations Minister Navdeep Bains, 43, unexpectedly announced he was resigning from politics for family reasons. Bains, who
Editorial, Op/Ed

Editor’s Take: The winter of our discontent

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Ordinarily at this time of year my colleagues and I would be headed west to Brandon, for the annual Manitoba Ag Days at the Keystone Centre. The first time I ever attended — being a transplanted Saskatchewanian — was more than 20 years ago, as a young reporter under the tutelage of my editors and
The familiar crowds of Ag Days are on hold this winter.
News

Innovations Showcase heads up reined-in Ag Days

The ag sector will have to make do with a few online efforts and a special publication this year

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It’s going to be yet another quiet week at Brandon’s Keystone Centre, when normally there would be tens of thousands of visitors. On Aug. 18, Manitoba Ag Days announced that it would be cancelling its in-person show for 2021, due to COVID-19. Despite speculation on how some form of the show might go ahead online,
Responses to the announcement of office closures ranged from some thinking the changes were long overdue, while others worried about job cuts and a decline in services.
News

Swath of MARD, MASC offices slated for closure

Any cost savings will be eclipsed by investments in new technology, says Pedersen

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Reactions were mixed as Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development announced it would close 21 of its community offices in the name of modernization. On Twitter, a farmer called it “10 years overdue” while others pointed to a decline in services the offices provided. Others worried that staff would lose their jobs and that services would
Over 10 years, the federal government is offering millions of dollars in agriculture-related incentives to assist producers in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Farmers should get on board with green future

Not fighting climate change is no longer an option

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Ottawa’s recently announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the cost of carbon over the next 10 years was met with predictable outrage from many in the agriculture sector. Already frustrated over having to pay for carbon uses, many farmers see the expanded plan as a crippling tax that ignores previous efforts made

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AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending January 15, 2021.

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