Rough trade: Trump and his tariff fixation
OTTAWA—One can’t help but wonder what the hundreds of market researchers, university experts, and economists—part of the multi-million-dollar trade intelligence industry focused on U.S.-Canada dealings—thought about the White House spokesperson’s analysis of bilateral trade last month. Reducing the entire matter to the language of a grade school spat over who didn’t get a card on […]
Trade, agriculture, innovation bureaucrats are most lobbied
The country’s most-lobbied federal bureaucrats so far this year have their hands on trade, agriculture, and innovation files, according to statistics from the federal lobbyists’ registry, with top officials at Trade, Environment Canada, and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development the most in demand. With NAFTA negotiations underway, lobbyists say it’s no surprise that Frédéric Seppey, the […]
Circumpolar Inuit gather for historic assembly in Alaska
UTQIAGVIK, ALASKA—Inuit from four circumpolar nations are gathered on the shores of the Beaufort Sea this week for the quadrennial general assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). They include Canada, Alaska (United States), Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). The meeting is taking place in the birthplace of the international Inuit organization, founded 41 years ago […]
It’s time to require CCTV in Canadian slaughter plants
Use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in slaughter plants is evolving globally. In preparation for Brexit, the U.K. passed legislation in May requiring CCTV in all British slaughter plants. Both countries and corporations recognize CCTV as an effective tool to ensure better treatment of animals. For example, Cargill, a multi-national slaughter company, adopted CCTV as policy, […]
Parliament must pass CPTPP before summer recess
Legislation to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is now in Parliament. Canada has a chance to demonstrate much-needed leadership and co-operation on trade with like-minded global partners. It is imperative for Parliament to pass this legislation before its summer recess. This agreement will unlock valuable trade opportunities all while enhancing prospects for the […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet dairy lobby; Bibeau, Champagne to talk women empowerment
Good Tuesday morning, After taking a personal day to regroup and process the verbal attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be back on the Hill. At 9 a.m., he’ll attend a cabinet meeting and will be in Question Period to face the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s loaded tweets. The prime […]
Agriculture minister most lobbied in February as trade, grain shipments topped industry interests
Lobbyists targeted Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay three times as often as his nearest cabinet colleague in February, as industry groups pushed trade interests and raised the alarm about a “crisis” in grain shipments, according to the latest lobby filings. Agriculture was the third-most popular subject lobbyists spoke to office holders about last month, with 373 mentions. Despite […]
Time for a global Canadian food policy
The government is soon to release a new food policy for Canada. With six departments actively engaged, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the helm, the national food policy has occasioned an ambitious and often contentious—but widely welcomed—debate. The engagement of so many departments, not least Health Canada, speaks to the growing understanding in policy […]
Free my grapes: Dismantling Canada’s interprovincial barriers to trade
In June 2016, the Senate of Canada released a report entitled “Tear Down These Walls: Dismantling Canada’s Internal Trade Barriers,” which called upon federal and provincial/territorial governments to take priority action on removing internal barriers to trade. The Senate views this call to action as an opportunity to lay the groundwork for growth and prosperity […]
How Canada and the IICA are trying to ease climate change’s harm to family farms in the Americas
My recent visit to Ottawa resulted in the strengthening of cooperation efforts to benefit vulnerable areas in the Americas. The agency I lead, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), together with several prestigious and active organizations based in Canada, such as the International Development Research Centre and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, […]
