Animals transported for slaughter deserve better
OTTAWA—In the sweltering heat of summer, Canadians seek refuge in air-conditioned buildings, indulge in cool treats, and take extra care to stay hydrated. Meanwhile, millions of farm animals are transported across great distances in trucks that offer little to no protection from the elements. The animals are also denied water, food, and rest for up […]
Groups representing education, food, health research lobby on through dog days of summer
Why would anyone want to lobby in the summer? Well, one reason is to explain to the government what a polytechnic is. In these dog days of summer, lobbyists are hard-pressed to find the country’s top elected officials hanging around Ottawa. Yet, a handful of organizations have been particularly busy so far this summer, talking […]
Yemen deserves Canada’s help and voice
It’s a far-away, poor country with few linkages to Canada. So it’s no surprise Yemen hasn’t made much of a dent in Canadian news recently, nor has it been a hot topic for politicians. But it’s a country Canada should care about. Yemen’s people have endured one crisis after another for years. Bordered by regional […]
Canada must tackle root causes of displacement, conflict, as well as their effects
OTTAWA—Twenty million people in Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen are facing famine. It is being called the largest humanitarian crisis since the inception of the United Nations. In Yemen, the last two years of conflict has caused such severe economic breakdown that today some seven million people do not know where their next meal […]
While reporters watch Trump’s tweets, famines kill hundreds in parts of Africa
WINNIPEG—In late May, the government of Canada announced its Famine Relief Fund. The fund was launched to galvanize Canadians into helping the estimated 20 million people facing starvation in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and other countries in Africa. The announcement generated a bit of attention: a brief mention in the TV and radio news, a […]
Policy reviews a chance to bolster crop diversity
The recent news about a leak in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault brought renewed attention to the very real threats facing our food supply. This seed bank protects a million seed varieties, providing a valuable contingency plan in the face of climate change and other emerging threats to global agriculture. Securing this site is therefore […]
Five big ideas for a better food system
Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay recently announced the launch of consultations for the national food policy. This gives the chance to Canadians, increasingly worried about hunger, obesity, climate change, and eager to support their local farmers, to have a say in how food makes its way to our plates (or is wasted along the way). […]
Bernier wants to scrap it, but poll suggests majority of Conservative voters back supply management
Libertarians, despair: a new poll shows support for Canada’s supply management system, even if Canadians are told it takes a toll on their pocket-books. Three of every four Canadians polled said they approved when asked to evaluate the agricultural system, described as follows: “Canada protects its dairy and poultry industries from foreign imports with tariffs […]
Trade rules for food security: a Canadian contribution
When it comes to food security, international trade matters. An estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population depends on traded staple foods; in 2014, the value of the world food trade was over US$1.4-trillion. The supply, access and stability of food systems, and the quality of the nutrition people eat, are deeply integrated with […]
Got milk? Wisconsin has too much, but that’s not Canada’s problem
U.S. President Donald Trump recently denounced Canada’s dairy system. His animus resulted from a long-advertised change to Canadian dairy import regulations that affected ultra-filtered milk. The public face of the dispute is the about 75 dairy farmers in and around Wisconsin who were told that their milk was no longer needed by their processor, Grassland […]
