Producer groups across Canada are expressing disappointment with the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision to uphold a price on carbon as constitutional. In a March 25, 6-3 split, the court said that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is “a matter of national concern.” Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan had challenged the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, saying it interfered with provincial
Disappointment in Supreme Court’s carbon tax decision
In a 6-3 split the highest court in the land ruled reducing GHG emissions a national issue
Opinion: Bibeau missed boat on grain drying
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau had plenty of time to add grain drying as an eligible exemption under the federal carbon pricing plan, but ruled out doing so last year. Her and her colleagues shouldn’t now be standing in the way of cross-partisan support to address the issue. Let’s recap to see how
MP Philip Lawrence defends drying bill at committee
Bill sponsor MP Lawrence says farmers are paying a disproportionate share of the carbon tax
A law intending to offer financial relief from carbon pricing for farmers drying grain was the focus of a recent parliamentary committee. On March 9, MPs sitting on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food had a chance to question the bill’s creator, Conservative MP Philip Lawrence. The proposed law reached committee after receiving support from each party outside
Transport Canada’s rail safety oversight under fire
The federal watchdog says key safety concerns remain unaddressed
Canada’s auditor general is criticizing Transport Canada for lack of safety oversight on railroads. A recent report from the office says the federal institution tasked with regulating transport has made important improvements to safety and inspections, but “it did not assess whether its oversight activities improved rail safety.” More than $328 billion worth of goods
Opinion: Uncertainty plaguing key ag files
Uncertainty remains a key component in several of the federal minister of agriculture’s files. A little more than two years into her current role, Marie-Claude Bibeau has been unable to gain the provincial support needed to find a solution for Canada’s business risk management programs. As she noted herself recently, it has been over 100
Food worker union blasts safety measures, foreign worker system
UFCW told parliamentary committee that the pandemic has been very difficult for food sector employees
A union representing thousands of Canadian food workers says “consistency and enforcement” remain a problem when it comes to responses for its members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Derek Johnstone, special assistant to the national president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union of Canada (UFCW), told a parliamentary committee on Feb. 18 that the
CCA calls for optimizing meat-packing system
Processing study ending soon, producer group calls for comprehensive action
It’s time to create an environment to support an “optimal Canadian packing system,” the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has told MPs. The group was speaking to the federal committee on agriculture which will soon be wrapping up its study into Canada’s meat-processing capacity during a February 23 meeting. Beginning in Nov. 2020, MPs have heard from
No credit expected for farmers’ past work in new carbon market
Work on protocols for specific projects to begin this spring, department says
Draft regulations for Canada’s new carbon market show Canadian farmers won’t receive credit for removing any greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the atmosphere prior to 2017. Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Friday announced the offset market, to be known as the Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System. A 60-day public consultation period on draft regulations
Opinion: Dairy producers should be more transparent
A closed-doors annual meeting sends the wrong message at a crucial time
Canada’s dairy industry continues to receive financial and moral support from taxpayers and consumers; but producers should recognize the role transparency plays in ensuring that relationship remains healthy. The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), set to receive billions of dollars in direct payments from Canadian taxpayers, recently held its 2021 annual policy meeting behind closed
Beef cattle sector weighs in for federal food processing study
Cattlemen's Association makes recommendations to Commons' ag committee
The House of Commons’ standing committee on agriculture will soon be wrapping up its study into Canada’s processing capacity. Since November, MPs have heard from more than 50 witnesses on the matter — including representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, whose president Bob Lowe and executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft testified at a committee meeting Tuesday.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
