COVID crisis or change point: how agriculture can lead out of pandemic recession
Canada’s Conservatives understand the many challenges that the agricultural sector has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, Canadian farmers have remained resilient and continue to put world-class food on our tables to feed our families. John F. Kennedy famously pointed to the Chinese characters for “crisis” as signifying both danger and opportunity. However, […]
Canadian agriculture in the age of COVID-19
The past 12 months have been anything but ordinary. Challenging, unprecedented, and uncertain have all been terms we have heard time and time again since the novel coronavirus was first recorded in Canada. Many of us have also likely become a little too familiar with the phrases “you’re on mute” and “the new normal” during […]
Unleashing the potential of Canadian agriculture
Feb. 23 was Canada’s Agriculture Day, a yearly celebration of the women and men who make our agriculture and food industry the best in the world. And while it shouldn’t take a crisis for us to show appreciation for our farmers, this year’s event took on additional meaning in light of the incredible work they […]
It’s called Zoom 101 and it takes former parliamentarians back to school: Waddell
As a former parliamentarian who represented Vancouver Kingsway, B.C., from 1979-1988 and Port Moody Coquitlam, B.C., from 1988-1993, and now president of the Foundation of Former Parliamentarians (my friend Dorothy Dobbie of Manitoba is president of our association), like many of my colleagues, I struggle with the new technology including my recent experiences with Zoom […]
Vaccine rollout revives Libs’ fortunes, but WE Charity scandal still an ‘open wound,’ say political players
The recent ramping up of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has triggered an upward trend for the Liberals, but the WE Charity controversy is still an “open wound” that could cause more political damage, and the bombshell allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour in the highest ranks of the Canadian military—and who knew what, and when—could also […]
Resilient farmers need a responsive government
At the start of the pandemic last March, the House Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee had just begun a study, based on a motion I moved during our first couple of meetings, looking into the suite of Business Risk Management Programs (BRMs) offered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to aid farmers and producers in times of […]
UN food summit an opportunity for Canadian agricultural leadership at home and abroad
In approximately six months, world leaders will meet at the United Nations Food Systems Summit. Whether the summit takes place on Zoom, or in person in New York, our representatives will share Canadian insights, help write policy, and set goals for the world’s food systems. As Canada crafts its position, what should we consider? What […]
Spending requests capture ‘direct supports’ for hotel quarantine users, says Hajdu, but not legal challenges
The federal government has not yet budgeted for any legal challenges related to its quarantine hotel policy, members of the House Health Committee heard Friday. In her testimony to the committee, Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) confirmed under questioning from Conservative MP John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) that Ottawa was not seeking approval […]
Should Canada follow Denmark’s lead and look to Israel to get more vaccines?
On March 4, Denmark’s Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen travelled to Israel on her own initiative to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She discussed options of buying Israeli surplus vaccines and possible Danish direct involvement in the production of more vaccines. As a travelling partner, she had the National-Conservative Austrian […]
India’s gesture of sending vaccine supplies to Canada suggests ‘long-range view’ of relations, despite irritants
India’s apparent acquiescence to strike a deal with Canada to send two million coronavirus vaccine doses amid heightened competition and demand for vaccine supplies could create an opening to broaden dialogue between the two nations, and may suggest India has a long view of the relationship, despite long-running irritants, say experts. “India has sort of […]
