‘The model doesn’t make any sense’: Senators, Inuit orgs call for Nutrition North transformation
A federal program that subsidizes the cost of sending perishable food to remote communities has a “model that doesn’t make any sense” for northerners, according to Senators who live in the territories and the organizations that represent their communities. Following a new study that questioned the effectiveness in the program in Nunavut, some hope that […]
Untying food aid in Canada: policy matters
When Cyclone Idai devastated crops in Mozambique and neighbouring countries in March, humanitarian agencies rushed in to supply food to the cyclone victims, sourcing that food from farming areas close to the disaster. That practice—local sourcing for food aid—is a relatively new development in the humanitarian field. Before 2008, Canada’s food aid was almost all […]
New agriculture minister Bibeau most lobbied in first month on the job
In her first month as Agriculture Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau was the most lobbied in cabinet, according to March filings in the federal lobbying registry. In meetings spread throughout the month, she spoke to 17 different groups and was mentioned in 19 reports. It continues the trend of Ms. Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.) meeting with more organizations […]
Let’s ditch the silos: towards an integrated agri-food policy framework
The Canadian government has identified the agriculture and agri-food sector as an engine of growth, with some pretty ambitious targets over the next decade. The 2017 Barton Report by the government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth proposed that Canada should boost its agriculture exports by $11-billion and its agri-food exports by $19-billion by 2027. The […]
Liberals propose national school meal program as Canada remains back of pack on children’s nutrition
The Liberal government has proposed creating a national school meal program, which, if implemented, would see Canada join most other advanced economies in the world in having a countrywide school food initiative. In yesterday’s federal budget, the government announced its “intention to work with provinces and territories towards the creation of a National School Food […]
Trudeau team’s legacy on agriculture will be market access gains, says Minister Bibeau
After four years in government, the Trudeau Liberals’ biggest enduring legacy on Canada’s agricultural sector will be increased market access abroad, says newly appointed Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) government has ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which will open market access in 11 countries. It […]
Agriculture spending in 2019 budget
The 2019 federal budget offers new spending for the agriculture and agri-food sector worth almost $4-billion going forward. The highlights: A Food Policy For Canada The Liberal government is proposing a four-pronged food strategy that will attempt to increase Canadians’ access to healthy foods, promote domestically grown and harvested food, support food security in the […]
Agricultural innovation key to sector growth
Recognizing Canada’s large natural endowment of water and arable land, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) defined agri-food as one of six interconnected sectors with tremendous global growth prospects. But, as with the other five sectors, the government of Canada emphasized that the agri-food industry’s potential would only be realized through a concerted innovation […]
Canada must engage with China to resolve canola impasse, say trade observers
It’s time the Canadian government find a way to engage with China to protect its canola industry, say a former diplomat and stakeholder group, after the Asian country scrapped the export permit for one of Canada’s largest canola processors in the midst of a broader diplomatic spat. China is blocking Winnipeg-based Richardson International’s oilseed after […]
Senate Ag Committee to weigh in on how to boost competitiveness of value-added food sector
When I was summoned to the Senate just over a year ago, I brought with me many years of experience in the agriculture and rural sectors. I have been fortunate to be able to use that experience to contribute to the work of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (AGFO). Our committee has […]
