Canada lacks a long-term vision for food
Canada has long been one of the top agriculture producers in the world. Our natural abundance of arable land and successful agricultural practices have made the industry an important element of Canada’s economy and part of who we are as Canadians. The problem is, we lack a long-term vision for food and many people are […]
Removal of CWB single desk for wheat and barley just killed a venerable icon
“No civilized world country, no matter how strongly attached to the doctrine of free enterprise, will or can let domestic agriculture be nakedly subjected to the ups and downs of the world market.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower, quoted in From Prairie Roots by Garry Fairbairn. The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) was one of our best Canadian institutions; […]
Agriculture sector banging on all cylinders, making record profits
Thanks to The Hill Times for the opportunity to comment and be a part of the in-depth look at the future of agriculture and food production in Canada. In recent years, there seems to be a concern (in some corners) with the sustainability of food production. From my perspective, the overall sustainability of domestic food […]
Feds takes innovation strategy to the farm
Agriculture Canada is taking the government’s emphasis on innovation to the farm field with multi-year funding for innovative agricultural research and development. Agriculture Canada is in the midst of a program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming. Established in 2010, the five-year, $27-million Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP) is funding research that could […]
Cuts to CFIA put food supply at pre-listeriosis outbreak risk: PSAC
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz insists that cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the federal government’s 2012 budget won’t compromise food safety, but the Public Service Alliance of Canada says that job cuts at the agency will roll back improvements to food inspection that were made in response to the 2008 listeriosis outbreak. “We’re […]
Future uncertain for now voluntary Canadian Wheat Board, say critics
Western farmers will find out what the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s grain marketing monopoly will mean for grain prices and profit margins when Bill C-18 takes effect this August, and the result could decide the fate of many family farms and a now voluntary CWB. The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, which […]
International markets call on Canadian farmers to do ‘more and more to feed a hungry world’: Ritz
With more than four years at the Cabinet table as minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Gerry Ritz is a Cabinet minister who can say with certainty that he’s had a huge impact on the file. Agriculture may not draw a lot of media attention, but in this year alone the federal government has secured access […]
PM, Finance and Industry to make innovation a top policy priority in 2012
The federal government has been signaling its willingness to take bold steps to foster innovation in Canada, but industry insiders say there needs to be a commitment across partisan lines if the country is to reap the long term benefits of such policies. Innovation has been a trending topic in official government statements after […]
On the ‘rightful place’ for innovation and science policy in our governments
GATINEAU—When U.S. President Barack Obama came to power three years ago, one of his priorities was to re-establish the “rightful place” of science in his administration. This has meant restoring science as a tool for crafting smart policies to strengthen the nation; getting the best available evidence to decision-makers; hiring highly-qualified public servants to […]
We need to find ways to fund new programs without endangering essential core of education
OTTAWA—The printing press, motorized vehicles, telephones, and computer are but a few of the inventions that have changed the world. They have affected social organization and created economic development, to a great extent improving the quality of our lives. As our global economy falters, it is not surprising that each nation looks to the creative […]
