Latest news with #CBCK-W
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2 former migrant workers detail their experiences living on Ontario farms
Tyrell Mills and his uncle Clifford McLiesh have worked as migrant workers for multiple years on Ontario farms. They spoke to CBC K-W's Aastha Shetty about their experience living in on-farm housing they say was dirty and unkempt. Mills and McLiesh were at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo on Friday to hear more about a new guidance document called the National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers. It was put together by a team of researchers and experts from across the country who want all levels of government to read the report and take action on the recommendations to keep migrant farm workers safe.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sticky situation: U.S. tariffs could make maple syrup a 'prime target' for fraud, Guelph researcher warns
Maple syrup has become "an ideal and prime target" for fraud and is at risk due to U.S. tariffs, a researcher in the University of Guelph's department of food science has warned. Maple syrup fraud refers to the deliberate misrepresentation of the product for economic gains — consumers paying more for a lower value product. Maleeka Singh said the increased possibility of maple syrup fraud is a direct result of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and the imposition of a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all imports that aren't compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. Singh, maple syrup is often adulterated by the diluting or mixing or completely replacing it with a lower value syrup, like corn syrup. "On the labels for example, it might say pure maple syrup, but might actually be a blend of syrups or not even maple syrup at all. Other ways can also include dilution with water, addition of other sugars, or even mislabeling the point of origin," Singh said on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris. "Maple syrup is often referred to as Canada's liquid gold due to its high demand and its price. Unfortunately, this makes it an ideal and prime target for adulteration or maple syrup fraud. This ultimately means, for example, that you as a consumer may be paying a premium price for maple syrup, but instead receive a lower value or a lower quality product." Singh pointed out that historically, instances of food fraud have increased during harsh economic times and supply chain disruptions. Using the last four years as an example, she said the global pandemic, regional wars and significant climate events all caused significant constraints in supply and demand in the supply chain. It's estimated that since 2020, instances of food fraud have increased by more than 10-fold, she said. "Regardless of what the actual tariffs are, increased threats of tariffs is enough to cause uncertainty in the supply chain, and this can incentivize food fraudsters to substitute pure maple syrup with a lower value product, ultimately leading to an increase in maple syrup fraud," Singh said. Canada and the U.S. are the only countries that produce maple syrup at commercial scale. In 2023 the Canadian maple syrup industry accounted for approximately 71 per cent of the total world maple syrup production, with 89.9 per cent of Canadian production originating from Quebec, 5.1 per cent from New Brunswick, 4.8 per cent from Ontario, and less than one per cent from Nova Scotia. Maple products accounted for 3.7 per cent of all Canadian horticulture farm cash receipts in 2023. Singh said it's difficult for consumers to detect maple syrup fraud. She said maple syrup is often tested by measuring the diluted sugar, something that's usually done in a lab. "Unfortunately, these food fraudsters are quite smart and they actively try to avoid detection, so there's really a need for quick and cost effective and more complex testing of maple syrup along the supply chain," she said. Marie-Pier P-Séguin, director general of the Maple Industry Council, says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates maple syrup to ensure that it is safe, wholesome and graded according to established standards. The CFIA also verifies that maple syrup and maple products are labelled and packaged in accordance with Canadian regulations and standards, so as not to mislead consumers and to facilitate their orderly marketing, the director general shared in an emailed statement. "Addition of sugar or other sweetening substances or flavours constitute food fraud and must be reported to the CFIA," the statement reads. "Any addition to maple syrup contravenes the regulation. To our knowledge, this practice has not been the subject of complaints from our members' customers, either on foreign or domestic markets." Kevin Snyder, a maple syrup producer in Waterloo region in southern Ontario and president of the Waterloo Wellington chapter of the Ontario Maple Producers. He says "fake maple syrup" is a growing concern as demand for real maple syrup increases. "Just like honey, when there's a market for a premium product, someone will find a way to cut it. The reason is they can cut it with some source for cheap sugar and sell it at 100 per cent-pure prices," Snyder wrote in an email to CBC News. "It may happen here in Ontario, but I believe it's mostly the export market. People in other countries believe it's 100 per cent pure and it's not."
CBC
05-05-2025
- CBC
Red Dress Day ceremony held in Kitchener park
Monday marked Red Dress Day. It's a day to remember missing and murdered Indigenous people. People gathered to mark the day near the clock tower in Kitchener's Victoria Park. In the park there was a display of more than 150 crosses, each one adorned with an orange ribbon and name. The event was put together by the Healing of the 7 Generations, a K-W based Indigenous organization. CBC K-W reporter Aastha Shetty was there.
CBC
05-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Sticky situation: U.S. tariffs could make maple syrup a 'prime target' for fraud, Guelph researcher warns
Maple syrup has become "an ideal and prime target" for fraud and is at risk due to U.S. tariffs, a researcher in the University of Guelph's department of food science has warned. Maple syrup fraud refers to the deliberate misrepresentation of the product for economic gains — consumers paying more for a lower value product. Maleeka Singh said the increased possibility of maple syrup fraud is a direct result of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and the imposition of a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all imports that aren't compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. Singh, maple syrup is often adulterated by the diluting or mixing or completely replacing it with a lower value syrup, like corn syrup. "On the labels for example, it might say pure maple syrup, but might actually be a blend of syrups or not even maple syrup at all. Other ways can also include dilution with water, addition of other sugars, or even mislabeling the point of origin," Singh said on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris. "Maple syrup is often referred to as Canada's liquid gold due to its high demand and its price. Unfortunately, this makes it an ideal and prime target for adulteration or maple syrup fraud. This ultimately means, for example, that you as a consumer may be paying a premium price for maple syrup, but instead receive a lower value or a lower quality product." Singh pointed out that historically, instances of food fraud have increased during harsh economic times and supply chain disruptions. Using the last four years as an example, she said the global pandemic, regional wars and significant climate events all caused significant constraints in supply and demand in the supply chain. It's estimated that since 2020, instances of food fraud have increased by more than 10-fold, she said. "Regardless of what the actual tariffs are, increased threats of tariffs is enough to cause uncertainty in the supply chain, and this can incentivize food fraudsters to substitute pure maple syrup with a lower value product, ultimately leading to an increase in maple syrup fraud," Singh said. Canada and the U.S. are the only countries that produce maple syrup at commercial scale. In 2023 the Canadian maple syrup industry accounted for approximately 71 per cent of the total world maple syrup production, with 89.9 per cent of Canadian production originating from Quebec, 5.1 per cent from New Brunswick, 4.8 per cent from Ontario, and less than one per cent from Nova Scotia. Maple products accounted for 3.7 per cent of all Canadian horticulture farm cash receipts in 2023. Singh said it's difficult for consumers to detect maple syrup fraud. She said maple syrup is often tested by measuring the diluted sugar, something that's usually done in a lab. "Unfortunately, these food fraudsters are quite smart and they actively try to avoid detection, so there's really a need for quick and cost effective and more complex testing of maple syrup along the supply chain," she said. Marie-Pier P-Séguin, director general of the Maple Industry Council, says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates maple syrup to ensure that it is safe, wholesome and graded according to established standards. The CFIA also verifies that maple syrup and maple products are labelled and packaged in accordance with Canadian regulations and standards, so as not to mislead consumers and to facilitate their orderly marketing, the director general shared in an emailed statement. "Addition of sugar or other sweetening substances or flavours constitute food fraud and must be reported to the CFIA," the statement reads. "Any addition to maple syrup contravenes the regulation. To our knowledge, this practice has not been the subject of complaints from our members' customers, either on foreign or domestic markets." 'Fake maple syrup' a concern Kevin Snyder, a maple syrup producer in Waterloo region in southern Ontario and president of the Waterloo Wellington chapter of the Ontario Maple Producers. He says "fake maple syrup" is a growing concern as demand for real maple syrup increases. "Just like honey, when there's a market for a premium product, someone will find a way to cut it. The reason is they can cut it with some source for cheap sugar and sell it at 100 per cent-pure prices," Snyder wrote in an email to CBC News. "It may happen here in Ontario, but I believe it's mostly the export market. People in other countries believe it's 100 per cent pure and it's not."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sculpture created by St. Jacobs artist installed at St. Peter's Basilica
A life size interactive sculpture depicting the transformation of a homeless person into an angel created by St. Jacobs, Ont., sculptor Tim Schmalz was installed just before Easter in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The sculpture, called Be Welcoming, was the second piece by Schmalz to be commissioned by Pope Francis. "It looks like a pretty rough-looking person with a hoodie, a backpack with all of his possessions. But then as you walk around the piece, the piece literally transforms into an Angel. The backpack on one side hides the Angel wings on the other side," Schmalz told CBC K-W from Rome. "The hoodie on the one side changes into this flowing hair. And I've created this beautiful, very impressionistic face of an Angel that is welcoming you to sit down right beside." The bronze sculpture is located near a medical centre off St. Peter's Square where Schmalz says "doctors from around the world come to volunteer their services to help the homeless." Be Welcoming was inspired by the biblical passage in Hebrews 13:2 which says: "Be welcoming to strangers, many have entertained angels unawares." It's not the first time Schmalz took inspiration from that quote. The first sculpture he did for Pope Francis called Angels Unawares depicts 140 migrants and refugees from different cultural and racial backgrounds and time periods is also displayed at St. Peter's Basilica. The bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2019 on World Day for Migrants and Refugees. It was the first time in 400 years that an artist had a modern day sculpture placed next to historical pieces of work around St. Peter's Square. Schmalz became known for the Homeless Jesus sculptures, which shows the Christian figure Jesus huddled under a blanket on a bench, with only the gashes on his feet signalling who he is. Schmalz told CBC K-W in 2015 that statue was quickly becoming a global movement with many institutions around the world requesting it. That was after Catholic churches in Toronto and New York initially refused to allow his sculpture to be placed outside their sanctuaries in 2014. After that controversy, many institutions around the world requested versions of his work be placed outside public institutions, charities and houses of worship. The installation of Be Welcoming was supposed to take place after Easter but it was installed early. Schmalz said he learned the sculpture was in place after he received an email from Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who helped create the medical centre for the homeless. "It was scheduled for after Easter. And about a couple days before Good Friday, I got these photographs showing the sculpture was already installed," said Schmalz. "To me it's very symbolic. This is in a sense the last artistic piece that I've collaborated with the Vatican, with Pope Francis. And to have it installed right before Easter ... it's just just amazing." Schmalz found out the Be Welcoming sculpture had been moved while in Italy for another sculpture in honour of the canonization of a young person named Carlo Acutis. It was scheduled to be placed at Acutis' tomb in Assisi, Italy. The canonization was postponed because of the pontiff's death on April 21. The Be Welcoming sculpture which Schmalz created in 2019 has also been installed in El Camino Santiago in Spain and the St. Padre Pio Shrine in southern Italy. LISTEN | :
