Canadian politicians

Farm and food goodies in federal budget well received

Farmers will get an increased capital gains exemption when they sell the farm

Farm groups are welcoming federal budget provisions that offer long-sought-after increases in the capital gains exemption on farm sales, the manufacturing equipment depreciation allowance and trade expansion programs. Increasing the capital gains exemption to $1 million from $813,000 has been on the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s wish list for years. Implementing it immediately will “have

workers cutting beef at a meat-packing plant

Meat industry needs outside help urgently

The shortage of labour is becoming critical for processors

Labour shortages in Canada’s meat sector are cutting into profitability and resulting in more livestock being sent south for processing, James Law, executive director of the Canadian Meat Council told the Senate agriculture committee last month. “The greatest threat to the future of Canada’s livestock and meat sector at the moment is the severe shortage


Meat industry singled out for new penalties

The Canadian meat industry was surprised by an out-of-the-blue announcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that it is being singled out for a financial penalty regime for food safety infractions. Jim Laws, president of the Canadian Meat Council, says the agency had said the administrative monetary penalty system (AMPs) would be introduced to the

Veteran civil servant made his mark during the BSE crisis

Brian Evans retires from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

After ages as the federal government’s public face of food safety, Brian Evans has taken a well-earned retirement, but not the quiet kind. In addition to being the country’s chief veterinary officer and chief food safety officer, Evans was the government’s main spokesman during the 2003 BSE crisis. But the biggest food safety event was


Impact of Russian red meat ban uncertain

Russia plans to ban meat imports from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers from April 8 over concerns about the use of the feed additive ractopamine, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service (VPSS) said. But it is not yet clear what the overall impact on the Canadian meat sector will be. VPSS, Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service,

Japan opens door wider for Canadian beef

Japan, the No. 4 customer for Canadian beef, has agreed to accept meat from animals 30 months or younger as of Feb. 1. Shipments had been restricted to meat from cattle 21 months and younger, a safeguard against BSE. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Martin Unrau, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, told a news


Canada losing ground as food exporter

Despite being an agricultural powerhouse, Canada is losing ground as a supplier of food products to the rest of the world, says a new report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. Last year Canada imported $6.3 billion more food products and beverages than it exported — and the deficit has grown steadily since 2004 when

Still waiting for the U.S. to respond to COOL ruling

The pivotal day in getting action on a ruling by the World Trade Organization that U.S. American country-of-origin labelling (COOL) program discriminates against Canadian livestock is shaping up to be Oct. 2. That’s the day when the WTO will impose a deadline for the U.S. to amend the offensive provisions in COOL, says John Masswohl,


Farm groups applaud start of trade talks with Japan

Farm and food industry groups were quick to praise the launch of negotiations for a Canada-Japan free trade deal by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda. Japan is the third-largest economy in the world and is Canada’s second-largest agriculture market. The market is worth almost $4 billion for Canadian farmers and

China trip boosts food industry

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s trade mission to China seems to have opened doors for major Canadian agri-food exporters. Now they’ll have to translate those agreements into orders. The beef, pork, pulse and canola sectors all received special attention during the visit and the Canadian Wheat Board got to remind everyone it isn’t going out of