Latest news with #AgriStability
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scott Moe releases list of 10 changes Ottawa 'must make' to reset relationship with Sask.
Premier Scott Moe has published a letter he sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney outlining 10 policy changes the federal government "must make" in order to reset the relationship between Ottawa and Saskatchewan. Moe wrote in a Wednesday post on social media that Carney has the ability to quickly move to address the 10 items. "[That] would clearly signal a new, more positive relationship between Saskatchewan and the federal government than we have had for the past 10 years," Moe wrote, referencing the strained relationship his provincial government had with prime minister Justin Trudeau. Moe's demands include: The end to a number of federal policies meant to lower carbon emissions, such as the industrial carbon tax and clean electricity regulations. Changes to the Criminal Code to address bail reform and the introduction of harsher penalties to combat "new street drugs." Expansion of pipeline capacity across Canada and the opening of rail and port capacity. Reduction of federal "red tape" in order to streamline federal approval of infrastructure projects and reduce "infringement" into provincial jurisdiction Many of the topics were raised by Moe during a press conference after last month's federal election. WATCH | Moe says at April 29 news conference he sees 'path forward' with Carney: Moe's letter was explicit in his insistence the federal government not impose the federal backstop on the industrial carbon tax. Moe's government eliminated the provincial output-based performance standards program, which taxed large industrial emitters, at the start of this month. The letter alludes to a conversation Moe and Carney had on May 1, during which the premier says he raised the 10 policy changes. Moe is the latest premier to release a wish list of projects and policies he wants to see addressed by the federal government under Carney, whose Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 federal election. Unlike his counterparts, Moe's letter does not identify a singular project he wants assistance on. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford highlighted a need for federal support on a tunnel under Highway 401. Moe is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday morning to mark the end of the spring legislative session, and it's expected he'll have more to add on his list of demands at that time. AgriStability meeting moving ahead On Wednesday, the province's Official Opposition urged Moe's Saskatchewan Party government to help farmers facing China's tariffs on canola. The NDP says the province needs to sign on to the federal AgriStability program, which is meant to protect producers against dramatic increases in costs and changing market conditions. Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan's minister of agriculture, said those efforts are already underway. "The federal government's proposed changes to the program haven't been implemented. Once a federal ag minister has been appointed, negotiations will continue around program enhancements," Harrison said during question period. Harrison added that he has a meeting scheduled for Thursday morning with Heath MacDonald, who was named as the new federal agriculture minister on Tuesday.
Winnipeg Free Press
03-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ensuring Canada's food system is on solid ground
Opinion Canadian farmers are more accustomed to dealing with uncertainty than most. If they are a bit nonchalant about the changing climate, it's because they adapt to it every day as part of their farm routine. They have no control over the markets. They get a vote on who sets their policy environment, but as they represent less than two per cent of the population, many would argue they have little sway over the outcome. After last week's federal election, they at least have certainty over who they are dealing with. Their organizations were busy pumping out news releases indicating their willingness to work with the Liberals led by Mark Carney. It's not the outcome many of them wanted, but they all recognize they must work with this government to navigate the economic and regulatory hardships caused by our chaos-loving next-door neighbour — especially as attention turns to positioning that trading relationship for the future. While many farm organizations have zeroed in on the most pressing issues for their members, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute focused its advice to the new government on framing key issues more broadly to set the stage for the upcoming debates. A series of papers by the institute's directors, staff and distinguished fellows provides some important context to issues that have long simmered and are about to boil. Some of these perspectives don't align with how farm groups see things. Elise Bigley, the institute's director of strategic projects, writes Canada's suite of business risk management programs needs a rethink to better define their core purpose and consider whether a one-size-fits-all approach is practical. 'Trying to design a margin program that works well for a mixed farm and for a single commodity operation is difficult and likely means it will not work well for either, as is the case with AgriStability,' she says. Support programs' costs, shared by federal and provincial-territorial governments and farmers, have soared 50 per cent since 2018. Meanwhile, more farmers are opting out because these programs don't meet their needs and provincial governments have stepped in with top-ups that defeat the purpose of having a national plan. 'It is important to consider whether Canada is maintaining the right balance between reactive and proactive approaches to risk management, especially in light of the calls for increased investment in BRM (business risk management) programs and strategic initiatives,' Bigley said. 'There needs to be a more transparent dialogue around whether it would be more prudent to increase investments in domestic value-added, trade diversification and innovation to help farmers proactively manage the increased risks they are facing.' C.D. Caldwell, a Dalhousie University professor emeritus who focuses on agricultural ecology, makes a strong case for supporting Canada's supply management of dairy, poultry and eggs. Despite higher prices at the grocery store, the overall cost of the system to Canadians is far lower than in the U.S., where up to 73 per cent of an American dairy farmer's returns come from taxpayers, he said. Caldwell said the Canadian system brings value far beyond the economic rationale, such as the environmental benefits of matching supply to demand and stabilizing the rural economy. 'We need a food system in Canada that has a balance of economics, environment and health. The old idea of supply management is a new idea for ecological, healthy, sustainable systems. It should be modified, if necessary, but the principles remain sound,' he wrote. The CAPI papers also highlight the need for better support of young farmers, more biodiversity, enabling the adoption of digital agriculture and data tools, promoting 'buy local' and decluttering regulatory systems. 'Just as 'one-size-fits-all' does not work for hockey equipment, it doesn't work for regulatory design or compliance regimes,' writes Rory McAlpine, who recently retired as senior vice-president, government and industry relations with Maple Leaf Foods. The new government faces a cacophony of voices with pressing concerns, but these issues deserve attention. What could be more important than ensuring the country's food system is on solid ground? Laura Rance is executive editor, production content lead for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@ Laura RanceColumnist Laura Rance is editorial director at Farm Business Communications. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
AgriStability enrolment extended 3 months
AgriStability enrolment has been extended for three months in response to tariffs and market disruptions. The program provides funding to farmers who take large revenue hits. The enrolment deadline, originally slated for April 30, will now come July 31. 'With stress and uncertainties beyond their control, extending this deadline will provide producers additional time to protect their margins,' Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said in a news release Friday. AgriStability funding comes through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion pool by Ottawa and provincial and territorial governments. — Free Press staff
Cision Canada
25-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Governments extend AgriStability enrolment deadline for 2025 program year
OTTAWA, ON, April 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Given the pressures and uncertainties facing the agricultural sector, federal, provincial and territorial governments have agreed to extend the AgriStability enrolment deadline from April 30, 2025, to July 31, 2025, for the 2025 program year. AgriStability is a margin-based program designed to help producers manage large income declines. This extension gives producers additional time to consider their needs and manage the impact of challenges faced by many farm operations, such as production loss, increased costs and changing market conditions. Farmers experiencing losses are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability for more rapid support. Producers have access to a comprehensive suite of business risk management (BRM) programs, including AgriStability, to help manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farms and are beyond their capacity to manage. BRM programs are often the first line of support for producers facing disasters. Farmers are encouraged to make use of these programs to protect their farming operation and contribute to a more resilient Canadian agriculture sector. AgriStability web page. SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
CBC
02-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Manitoba to match federal agricultural support funding as U.S. tariffs announced
The Manitoba government has announced additional supports for the province's agriculture sector ahead of the expected announcement of new tariffs from the U.S. Premier Wab Kinew announced Wednesday the province will provide $10.7 million in matching funds for the federal AgriStability program, which helps producers affected by large declines in income. The federal government expanded the program late last month, increasing the compensation rate for 2025 while doubling the cap for payoffs to $6 million. The announcement comes the same day U.S. President Donald Trump announced new global tariffs the the U.S. government says will take effect immediately. Kinew says the tariffs will prop up the agricultural industry amid the trade war with the U.S. and Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture products. "These are ways we can protect our economy," the premier said. "We can insulate against the shock of tariffs and give our economy time to adjust. "If we have to build the Canadian market, if we have to look at other markets overseas, these investments we make as a government [are] going to give us time." The new funding is on top of the $100 million the province set aside for the agriculture industry as part of the 2025 budget's $500-million tariff response contingency, as well as $140.8 million for business risk management programming. "Best-case scenario, we don't have to spend any of it, and we can use that money for workforce development and accessing international market," Kinew said. "But if things continue to get more intense … we'll be there to protect the Manitoba economy."
