Agriculture is not immune from the coming climate crisis
On Oct. 15, 2018, the House of Commons held an emergency debate about the IPCC report warning that humanity has—at most—10 to 12 years to avert a global catastrophe. The debate is over, but the emergency is not. We should, as a society, be aware that no part of our economy, our institutions and our […]
Scope of USMCA’s new impacts on our food system relatively limited
The negotiation and completion of the USMCA garnered significant attention. While there are important elements of the agreement, the scope of the new impacts on the food system is relatively limited. There are important impacts in the dairy, chicken, and other supply managed sectors that should be considered. The completion of an agreement has also […]
Agriculture Policy Briefing
When it comes to food security in the North, Inuit need a seat at the table
No one can survive without food. That is why I was not surprised to learn that Inuit left the federal government’s Indigenous Working Group on food security, nor was I surprised by the comments made by Shylah Elliott, a health policy analyst for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), who called the working group “tokenism and optics” […]
ITK president Obed says he and Minister LeBlanc have pledged ‘new course’ on Nutrition North redesign
Months after major Inuit organizations walked out of departmental consultations on revamping the northern food subsidy program, one Inuit leader says he and the new minister for northern affairs have “pledged to set a new course” on the program’s redesign. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) president Natan Obed said he and Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs Minister […]
Government inaction is a roadblock to building a sustainable economy for Nunavut
“There is no relationship more important to this government than our relationship with Indigenous people.” How often have I heard that said in the House as the prime minister and his cabinet ministers rise to answer questions on Indigenous issues? Nunavummiut can be forgiven for questioning their sincerity. In Nunavut we share a vision that […]
Minister LeBlanc says feds looking at ‘all options’ to cut food cost in the North
Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government is exploring different options to improve access to local “country” foods in the North, as work on redesigning the Nutrition North food subsidy program continues. In an email interview with The Hill Times, the veteran MP who is new to the role said the […]
Supply management benefits consumers, small family farms
Farmers and government created supply management more than 40 years ago to regulate perishable commodities such as eggs, poultry, and dairy products. Regulatory organizations set the price per unit based on the cost of production; control quality and safety by regulating the use of medicines; and prohibit the use of genetically modified hormones allowed in […]
The real perils of biotech
The public discussion about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) almost invariably focuses on bitter disputes about the safety of GMO crops. While many argue that the technology poses threats to natural systems and to human health, most research suggests that this is not the case. Still, peer-reviewed studies fall on both sides of the question. Given the […]
‘The conditions are ripe’: industry says it’s time for feds to consider a national bioeconomy strategy
With Canada’s biotechnology sector showing signs of new growth, industry advocates say it’s time the federal government consider a national biotech strategy, more than a decade after one created in 1998 was nixed by the Conservative government. In January 2018, the Public Policy Forum released a report recommending the creation of a national life sciences […]
