Why Agriculture Minister Ritz is still top-lobbied minister in Cabinet
In the first quarter of 2013, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz remains the top-lobbied minister, according to the Office of the Lobbying Commissioner’s monthly communications report. Mr. Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.), who was the top lobbied minister for 2012, also met with registered lobbyists 31 times since Jan. 1 to discuss issues such as international trade, environment, […]
Red tape stressing out farmers, distracting from business
Red tape is stressing out farmers and deterring them from growing their businesses at a time when the sector needs to innovate, say experts. “We get hundreds of comments from our members, and what they reveal is farmers’ frustrations with regulators who often don’t understand the challenges of running a farm,” said Marilyn Braun-Pollon, […]
Canada-European trade deal could take two years to put in place, says trade expert
Canadian farmers may have to wait at least two years before they begin to see any benefits—or challenges—from a trade deal with the European Union, says former federal international trade negotiator Peter Clark. The European Union’s own protective policies on agricultural imports and the various agriculture interests of the 27-member bloc are only a […]
Feds ‘modernizing’ agriculture sector with Growing Forward 2, says Ag Minister
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says that the federal government’s latest five-year agriculture policy framework will stimulate innovation and make Canada’s agriculture sector more competitive, but critics of the new policy framework say it benefits big agribusiness at the expense of independent farmers. Growing Forward 2 (GF2), the federal government’s new five-year policy framework for […]
Trudeau’s plan to engage Canadians in developing party’s next platform could be successful
Lester B. Pearson became prime minister of Canada on April 22, 1963. Fifty years ago. His government is often credited with being one of the most progressive, activist, and effective in Canadian history. And yet it was over two minority governments that lasted all of five years. He proved two things that are relevant […]
B.C. First Nations chief ‘mystified’ by feds’ approach to resource development
Canada’s resource boom could generate more than $600-billion in investment over the next decade, but without respectful dialogue and capacity-building partnerships there’s little chance of gaining First Nations’ approval for many projects, says British Columbia Chief Douglas White. Chief White, who represents the Snuneymuxw First Nation on B.C.’s Vancouver Island, told The Hill Times […]
Responsible resources development brings economic prosperity, environment protection
Canada is fortunate to have an enormous wealth of natural resources and abundant oil and gas reserves. In fact, we possess the world’s third largest oil reserves and are the world’s third largest producer of natural gas. We are also number one in potash and number three in diamonds. The natural resources sector represents […]
Will Fisheries minister act in response to the Cohen Commission?
It has been nearly five months since the mammoth report of Justice Bruce Cohen on “The Uncertain Future of Fraser River Sockeye” was tabled with the Governor General. The Cohen Commission was set in motion in the fall of 2009 to explore the causes for the collapse of returning sockeye populations to the Fraser […]
Industry, environmental groups try to speed up progress on Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement
Progress is slow on plans to protect Canada’s vast boreal forest, but it’s happening, says the main industry group involved in conservation efforts, and nobody wants to resume the war in the woods. “Everybody acknowledges that the [Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement] is a complex deal or initiative, wider in scope than any other agreement […]
Rethinking natural resources, building Canadian prosperity for the long term
Today, the laissez-faire Conservative approach to resource exploitation is facing renewed challenges. After seven years of delaying and misdirection, the Conservatives are simply out of step when it comes to sustainable resource development—with Canadians, and with our closest allies. To hear Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver tell it, over the last few years the […]
