Opinion: Reason for cautious optimism after throne speech

The biggest-ticket item for farmers in the government’s upcoming plans is better rural internet

The recent throne speech was predictably light on specifics, but producers should be cautiously optimistic about most of the ambitious legislative plans laid out by the minority governing Liberals. The biggest potential win comes in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s commitment to enhance rural broadband access. “In the last six months, many more people have worked

Comment: ‘How much evidence do you need to vaporize a zombie?’

Farm & Food File: U.S. ag trade policy has a ‘zombie idea’ infestation

While “zombie ideas” isn’t a phrase you often see in farm publications, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has popularized it to describe a uniquely American political condition. Zombie ideas, the Nobel Prize-winning economist explained in a 2018 column, are,” ideas that should have died long ago, yet still keep shambling along, eating politicians’ brains.”


Opinion: Canada’s work to reform WTO is a good sign

As nations turn inward the global order is being upended

Canada’s efforts to reform the World Trade Organization are commendable. It is apparent more countries are deciding to turn inwards rather than focusing on multilateral trade relationships. The United States, India, Italy and others have all taken actions domestically that have negatively impacted Canadian farmers. Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) executive director Claire Citeau was

Canadians should resurrect the so-called “Third option” first proposed in 1972.

Opinion: Canada needs to rethink U.S. relationship

Recent events should force Canadians to rethink our country’s relationship with the U.S. Canada will always be a mouse in bed with the elephant, but we need to realize the elephant is sick. American leadership is deeply corrupted, with President Donald Trump making clear he values economic and personal gain over human life. He has


A program distributing food – particularly perishables – to help feed Canadians who would otherwise not be fed is admirable.

Opinion: Food recovery program should be permanent and expanded

The program isn’t a true win for farmers, but it’s better than food waste and total losses

Now that we know more about how the Surplus Food Rescue program will work, there should be a recognition for its need beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was announced as part the federal pandemic response and comes with $50 million in funding to help move extra food to vulnerable Canadians. Now that details are available, there is clear indication the program

Opinion: Conservative front-runners both ag supporters

There are, however, important policy distinctions between Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole

A new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) is expected to be crowned in August. For non-members of the party, this news might be easy to miss. COVID-19-related news has dominated headlines for months and it has been easy to disregard the leadership race that could determine who will be Canada’s next prime


COVID-19 made us realize that many whose jobs are too important to shut down are also the people making the least money.

Opinion: Heroes, only for a while

The reality of low margins is seeing employers claw back wage top-ups for front-line employees

The “hero pay” is quietly fading away in grocery stores and food distribution centres. In fact, the American-based Kroger chain, among others, even asked employees to return the extra money they received but has since backed off. Quite the reversal from 10 weeks ago. It appears higher salaries in grocery stores were short lived. It

Laughter is no longer the best medicine

What’s old is periodically new on the well-worn ag policy treadmill

One reason — there were others — for my departure from farm magazine writing was laughter. Let me explain. In the early-1980s, the world, like now, was headed to hell in a hurry and agriculture was leading the parade. Interest rates were a crushing 14 per cent, farmland prices were on their way to plunging


Opinion: ‘Canadian grain — it won’t hurt you’

Opinion: ‘Canadian grain — it won’t hurt you’

A merged Cigi/Cereals Canada should deal with customers, not consumers

In 1935, the Canadian Wheat Board launched a promotion campaign in the United Kingdom with a film called “The Kinsmen.” It showed how British immigrants to Canada were now farmers sending wheat back to their “kinsmen” in the U.K. The film showing how their wheat was grown, harvested and shipped had high production values for

Unlike what many analysts have said in the past, the food sector has never been recession-proof. COVID-19, however, may show us that it is in fact immune to deflationary pressures.

Opinion: Better get used to higher food prices

Food inflation is vastly outstripping price advances in other products

Despite a negative inflation rate, recent StatsCan numbers are telling us that we are in for a wild ride at the grocery store. The numbers are also telling. While the general inflation rate sits at -0.2 per cent, the food inflation rate is at 3.4 per cent. In December 2019, Canada’s Food Price Report forecasted