Canada’s soils are in crisis
Healthy soil is the heart of our food system and, by every conceivable measure, we are making our soil sick. In Ontario, soil organic matter—a key determinant of soil health—is now decreasing on 82 per cent of farmland. Since 1948, the soil organic matter in Essex County, in the province’s far south, has declined by […]
In an age of fuming strongmen, Merkel’s low-key tenacity will be missed
OTTAWA—She has known them all—all the world’s most powerful political leaders, all men, of recent years: George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Donald Trump. For 13 years, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has brought her low-key, pragmatic style to summits around the globe and earned the title of the world’s most powerful woman—and more recently […]
Time for Trudeau to emulate Chrétien and slay the deficit
OTTAWA—There was quite a party a couple weeks ago in Ottawa: longtime Liberals celebrated the 25th anniversary of the election of Jean Chrétien’s government, and the launch of the former prime minister’s book, My Stories, My Times. Although I couldn’t make it, I know many ministers and MPs were there, along with Prime Minister Justin […]
Liberals, Conservatives see fundraising bump on carbon price as Grits tighten gap
As the Liberals and Conservatives report record fundraising quarters, both parties and observers say the debate over the Liberals’ carbon price will be a motivating factor for their donors in the coming months as the Tories look to widen the gap that the Liberals tightened over the last quarter. The Conservatives raked in $4.86-million from […]
Three months in, here’s what’s at stake in Canada’s Mali mission
CALGARY—Canadians are materially back in the peacekeeping game. Canada’s summer deployment of an aviation task force to Mali to support a United Nations mission for one year is the first significant deployment of Canadian troops and equipment to UN peacekeeping in Africa since 2001. Over the last decade or two, most of the largest, most […]
How to unlock the potential of Canada’s North
While the mining industry is truly pan-Canadian, with operations from coast to coast to coast, it is particularly significant to northern Canada. In the Arctic specifically, mining is the largest private-sector employer, responsible for the employment of approximately 8,500 people, or one in every six jobs. These numbers increase substantially when the Arctic regions of […]
NDP questions why Trans Mountain buy not in spending estimates
The NDP is questioning why the multi-billion-dollar Trans Mountain pipeline purchase isn’t in the first round of extra government spending requests, saying it impedes Parliamentarians’ ability to ensure transparency and accountability of taxpayers’ money. But the Liberals say the purchase is being handled as a loan between two Crown corporations. To facilitate the planned expansion, […]
Caribou threats tarnish Canada’s environmental reputation
For decades, Canada has enjoyed an international reputation as an environmental leader. But as Canada fails to take action to stop the widespread degradation of critical caribou habitat in the boreal forest, that reputation is becoming harder to maintain. Canada’s entrenchment in the industry-dominated status quo has implications that extend far beyond caribou, threatening to […]
MacAulay eyes ‘growth package’ for USMCA-affected farmers to be in place before deal’s ratified
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says supply-managed farmers affected by the new USMCA agreement will be provided a “growth package,” and wants the program to be in place before the tri-lateral agreement is approved by the American and Mexican governments. In a telephone interview with The Hill Times last week, the veteran Liberal MP from Prince […]
How the Senate is supporting Canadians in supply managed agricultural sectors in relation to USMCA, CPTPP
The recent agreement by Canada, the United States, and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will change Canadian agriculture. Many farmers will see benefits related to decreased trade barriers between the three countries. However, for farmers and processors involved in supply managed agricultural sectors involving dairy, poultry, […]
