Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis. (MAPAQ.gouv.qc.ca)

Quebec ag minister pulled from caucus

Quebec’s agriculture minister has been removed from the provincial government’s cabinet and caucus, the premier’s office said Thursday. In a short press release, Premier Philippe Couillard said he was informed Thursday evening that Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis is the subject of a police investigation. Given the circumstances, Paradis has been relieved of ministerial duties and


Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis. (MAPAQ.gouv.qc.ca)

Quebec agriculture minister temporarily sidelined

Quebec’s agriculture minister Pierre Paradis is off work temporarily with what’s reported to be a concussion. Premier Philippe Couillard announced Wednesday that Paradis’ responsibilities as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries would temporarily go to Transport Minister Laurent Lessard. News outlets in Quebec including Radio Canada, La Presse and TVA reported Wednesday that Paradis had

Grain transport emergency provisions extended

Grain transport emergency provisions extended

Provisions that were set to expire August 1 have been extended another full year

The federal government is extending emergency grain-shipping provisions for another year. The provisions, which included weekly mandatory minimum grain-hauling levels, compensation to shippers for failing to provide service and extended interswitching that encourage competition, were set to expire August 1 with the end of the current crop year. Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister


Rick White, CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, says since farmers pay most of the Canadian Grain Commission’s budget, the commission should be more directly accountable to farmers.

Farmers pay but have no say

One industry official says farmers cover most of the Canadian Grain Commission’s budget but the commission isn’t accountable to farmers

Farmers pay for Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) operations so they should have a bigger say in how it operates, says Rick White, chief executive officer of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “It’s (CGC) a Government of Canada agency and farmers are paying full freight on it now (because of cost recovery),” said White during




Pork agency hearings set for 2016

Pork agency hearings set for 2016

The proposed promotion and research agency would be funded by farmer levies

The Farm Products Council of Canada has scheduled public hearings for Calgary and Montreal in 2016 on the proposed national pork promotion and research agency. The sessions will be in Calgary Jan. 19 and Montreal Feb. 16. The council has been collecting written submissions for the last few months on the proposal for an agency


Editorial: Unmuzzling the civil service

Editorial: Unmuzzling the civil service

The mainstream media has been having a field day over the newly reacquired ability of Environment Canada’s “rock snot” scientist to speak to the press about his work. Max Bothwell, who has published multiple studies on the freshwater algae and what makes it grow, became somewhat of a poster boy for the federal scientists affected

Lawrence MacAulay

MacAulay has been given his list of marching orders

Healthy food, grain transportation, 
expanded trade and more basic research 
are among the items on his to-do list

For the first time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made public the mandate letters traditionally issued to every minister, and Agriculture Minister Lawr­­ence MacAulay’s list includes a national food policy, improved grain transportation, climate change adaptation and more basic research. MacAulay is to develop “a food policy that promotes healthy living and safe food by putting