General

The federal government has acted on a pledge to require Farm Credit Canada to consider the “personal integrity” of people applying for financing from the federal farm lender. FCC was one on a list of five Crown corporations that will now be required to make such considerations, announced Saturday by federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz […] Read more

Sweetening the federal Liberals’ proposed “green shift” plan in anticipation of an election call, party leader Stephane Dion proposes to put farmers among the beneficiaries of $900 million in “green” incentives. The Liberals’ proposed “green shift” environmental and economic plan will now include a $250 million Green Farms Fund, $400 million in emissions reduction credits […] Read more

The president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture has resigned his post to run for the federal Liberals in Manitoba. Bob Friesen, a former turkey and hog farmer from Wawanesa, Man., about 50 km southeast of Brandon, has been the CFA’s president for nine years. Friesen, well known as an advocate for Canadian farmers and […] Read more

An ag industry sector council’s work to deepen Canada’s agricultural labour pool has picked up $1.3 million in new federal funds. Speaking Wednesday at La Ferme Gillette at Embrun, Ont., southern Ontario MP Pierre Lemieux announced the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) will get funding for three projects through the federal Sector Council Program. […] Read more

The federal government says it’s concluded its negotiations toward a free trade agreement (FTA) with Jordan that would benefit Canadian pulse growers among other sectors. International Trade Minister Michael Fortier announced Tuesday that the talks had concluded during their third round in Amman on Monday. “This bilateral free trade agreement will open up significant opportunities […] Read more

Ontario Agri-Food Education (OAFE) encouraging proposals to receive funds from its $450,000 Healthy Eating Program, which is aimed at communicating the health benefits of Ontario-grown food. OAFE executive director Colleen Smith-Robinson says proposals are also encouraged from those outside traditional agriculture circles. “We have carefully considered our goals and objectives, target market and evaluation criteria. […] Read more