Expanding role of micro, small, and medium enterprises provide opportunities for sustainable development
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is home to 40 per cent of the world’s population, 50 per cent of global trade, and 60 per cent of global GDP. Over the last quarter century, APEC has shaped and transformed the global economy and supported half a billion people in their rise out of poverty. Few Canadians know […]
Beef farmers care about their animals’ welfare
Re: “Animals transported for slaughter deserve better” (The Hill Times, Aug. 21, p. 13). Riana Topan should know that Canadian beef farmers and their families share the same goal of ensuring the best health and welfare outcomes for animals as other Canadians do. The commitment to animal care includes managing animal health through veterinarian-farmer relationships; […]
Supply management: Canada’s sacred cow no more?
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—In 1976, many commentators outside of Quebec attributed the victory of René Lévesque and the Parti Québécois to the leader’s charisma and the desire for independence. Within Quebec, some were astute enough to note traditional Liberal ridings in rural areas had swung significantly to the PQ. These ridings were not hotbeds of Quebec nationalism, […]
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). […]
