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Author Archives D.C. Fraser

File photo of Ontario cropland from the air. (IMNATURE/iStock/Getty Images)
Crops, Weather

Federal NDP introduces soil health bill

Proposal calls for a National Soil Health Advocate

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The federal New Democrats propose to set up a plan they say could help build up Canadian agriculture from the ground down. The NDP's agriculture critic, British Columbia MP Alistair MacGregor, on Monday introduced a private member's bill in the Commons to create a national soil health strategy for Canada. The strategy as proposed in […] Read more
(Kevin_LS/iStock/Getty Images)
General

Rural, remote crime targeted in Tory MP’s bill

Bill would consider crimes' settings during sentencing

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An Alberta Conservative MP is trying to tackle rural crime by introducing a law that would punish more severely those accused of targeting remote, and vulnerable, people or property. Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins introduced his private member's bill for first reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday. "Rural Canadians too often don't feel […] Read more
(Thinkstock photo)
General, Machinery, Weather

Federal budget plays to mixed reviews from ag groups

Funding for green initiatives, carbon pricing rebate plan hailed

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The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) says it is "pleased" the 2021 federal budget included some of the recommendations it had made. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's first budget, released April 19, included significant spending to help producers transition to a greener economy and cited agriculture as a foundational pillar of Canada's future. "CFA will be […] Read more
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland arrives to a news conference prior to delivering the budget in the House of Commons in Ottawa on April 19, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)
General, Machinery, Weather

Federal budget to offer direct payments to farmers for carbon pricing

Other new 'green growth' funding also on deck

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The federal government's 2021 budget offers up new spending to support farmers combatting climate change through targeted investments -- and, in some cases, direct payments. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released the budget Monday, showing the majority of new spending will take place over three years and be largely focused on "green growth." "Budget 2021 announces […] Read more
Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole speaks at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Nov. 19, 2020. (File photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)
General, Machinery, Weather

Conservatives’ new climate plan puts price on carbon

New poll ranks carbon tax costs highest among farmers' springtime concerns

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Canada's ag sector is expected to serve as a carbon sink, a renewable fuel source and a beneficiary in the federal Conservative Party's new climate change plan — which now includes putting a price on carbon. Party leader Erin O'Toole announced the new plan Thursday — after a long campaign of vehemently opposing such policy. […] Read more
Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland appears at a news conference in Ottawa on Sept. 24, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)
General, Machinery, Weather

Agriculture, agrifood wish lists pile up ahead of long-delayed budget

Freeland's budget due out Monday afternoon

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Agriculture and agrifood sector stakeholders will learn Monday which of their requests make their way out of the pile and into a long-awaited federal budget. Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's 2021 budget is scheduled to be released Monday in the House of Commons, at about 4 p.m. ET. Canadians didn't get a 2020 budget: it […] Read more
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, with Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna (l) and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault (r), speaks at the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa on Dec. 11, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)
General, Machinery, Weather

No credit expected for farmers’ past work in new carbon market

Work on protocols for specific projects to begin this spring, department says

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Draft regulations for Canada's new carbon market show Canadian farmers won't receive credit for removing any greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the atmosphere prior to 2017. Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Friday announced the offset market, to be known as the Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System. A 60-day public consultation period on draft regulations […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Beef Cattle, Livestock

Beef cattle sector weighs in for federal food processing study

Cattlemen's Association makes recommendations to Commons' ag committee

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The House of Commons' standing committee on agriculture will soon be wrapping up its study into Canada's processing capacity. Since November, MPs have heard from more than 50 witnesses on the matter -- including representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, whose president Bob Lowe and executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft testified at a committee meeting Tuesday. […] Read more
(Strickke/E+/Getty Images)
Crops, Machinery, Weather

Grain drying relief moving forward, one way or other

Governing Liberals telegraph plans to introduce their own measure

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Despite voting against a bill to exempt certain farm fuels from the carbon tax, the governing federal Liberals say tax relief for grain drying is coming. Conservative MP Philip Lawrence's private member's bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel), passed second reading in the House of Commons […] Read more
Incoming WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala takes part in an online meeting before speaking during an interview with Reuters in Potomac, Maryland on Feb. 15, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Joshua Roberts)
General, Markets

Canada hails new WTO chief

Trade body names first African, and first female, DG

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Canada is lending its support to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) choice for its new director general. Ngorzi Okonjo-Iweala was chosen Feb. 15 by WTO members as the international trade body's new head, making her the first woman and the first African to serve in the role. Mary Ng, Canada's minister of small business, export […] Read more

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