Canada still has a good shot at ratifying its trade deal with the European Union, despite turmoil within the EU, according to Canadian government officials. The United Kingdom’s recent referendum vote to leave the EU doesn’t legally change the ratification of the Canada/EU Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) in any way, a federal official said […] Read more
Canada/EU trade pact seen possible despite headwinds
Quebec again ponders mandatory GMO labelling
Quebec’s agriculture minister has telegraphed an interest in following the lead of a next-door neighbour to require mandatory labelling for foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The province’s governing Liberals previously called for such a system, making a GMO label law part of their election platform back in 2003, but have been quiet about their […] Read more
CP, Teamsters dispute railway’s staffing obligations
Canadian Pacific Railway is refuting claims from one of its employees’ unions that the company is in “violation of the law” over layoffs of track maintenance staff. Calgary-based CP last month announced temporary layoffs effective June 30 affecting about 500 maintenance-of-way crew positions. On Tuesday it cited “business ebbs and flows associated with global markets […] Read more
History: Ottawa Letter
Reprinted from the February 1950 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Ottawa Letter By Senator F.W. Gershaw Residents of Medicine Hat may remember Mr. F.F. Fatt who relates the following story of how fires were fought in the early days. “Our poor little town lay at the mercy of the fire fiend. What could we do? Our only salvation lay with the CPR and Mike Leonard. […] Read more
Ryan Hurlburt wins LMAC auctioneering champion
News Roundup from the June 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Camaraderie and a chance to learn livestock selling from the best drew 29 auctioneers from points across Alberta through Quebec to the Livestock Markets Association of Canada’s (LMAC) annual auctioneering championships May 13 at Brussels Livestock, Brussels, Ont. It was standing room only for six hours straight in the house with a live feed to […] Read more
Mexico to accept OTM Canadian beef this fall
Mexico will resume “fully normalized” trade in beef products with Canada starting Oct. 1, accepting imports of Canadian beef from cattle over 30 months old (OTMs). The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Canadian Meat Council announced the move in separate releases Tuesday, following a joint statement by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Prime Minister Justin […] Read more
Breeding cattle get market access to Turkey
Exporters of Canadian breeding cattle expect to see another $4.5 million per year in business from a new agreement for market access to Turkey, according to the federal government. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced an agreement with Turkey on export certificates for Canadian breeding cattle effective “immediately.” […] Read more
Manitoba gets a new agriculture minister
Newsmakers from the June 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Ralph Eichler was sworn in last month as Manitoba’s new agriculture minister. A one-time cattle producer who raised purebred Simmentals and a commercial herd, he also owned Prairie Farm and Ranch Supply, a livestock-handling equipment manufacturer and dealership and a Teulon auction company Ray’s Auction Service. He served as the administrator of the Interlake School […] Read more
Earls locks in Canadian beef supplies
Vancouver-based dining chain Earls has enlisted a handful of Canadian ranchers and processors to supply beef to about half its stores while matching its criteria for animal care and “ethical farming practices.” The move comes about six weeks after Earls retreated from a plan to source its beef from Creekstone Farms, choosing the Kansas company […] Read more
Olymel plans major expansion for Quebec hog plant
The meat packing arm of Quebec’s La Coop federee has budgeted $25 million for a major expansion project at its hog slaughter and butchering plant at St-Esprit, Que. Olymel’s expansion plan, announced Tuesday, is expected to bring the plant’s floor space to over 215,000 square feet, up by about 35,000 square feet, and boost its […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
