Railways Don’t Want More Regulation

The rebounding North American economy is boosting the rail sector as can be seen in the first-quarter profits most railways posted this year but the carriers still have a long way to roll before they reach their potential, industry representatives say. “The indicators for 2010 are optimistic,” says John Gray, vice-president of policy and economics


Conference Board Takes Aim At Supply Management

Supply management blocks dairy farmers from competing in world markets and saddles consumers and processors with high costs, says a report from the Conference Board of Canada. Dairy farmers are engaged in defending their system from cheap imports when they “could otherwise be positioning the sector for future long-term domestic and global success including opportunities

Food Manufacturers Thrive In Recession

Food manufacturers are pulling through the economic recession with minimal damage because both domestic and export demand for their products remains strong, the Conference Board of Canada says. “Consumers have substituted lower-cost and store-brand foods, which usually mean lower margins for food manufacturers,” says a report released by the board. “Fortunately, exports of manufactured food


In Brief… – for Mar. 19, 2009

Bobcat, Polaris team up:North Dakota-based skid-steer maker Bobcat Co. and snowmobile and ATV maker Polaris Industries have signed on for a “long-term strategic alliance” that will ultimately lead to co-development of new equipment. “Initially, Polaris will produce and sell highly differentiated work vehicles to Bobcat for sale through the Bobcat dealer network,” Scott Wine, CEO