Latest news with #Sigurdson
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Varcoe: Alberta agriculture minister chides Ottawa over slow response to Chinese canola tariffs
Article content 'It's blatantly obvious that the whole canola situation and the instability with trade with China started with the EV tariffs,' said Sigurdson. Article content 'What we see is an EV tariff that is meant to protect Central Canada businesses, affecting western Canadian agricultural producers. And we're calling on the federal government for immediate action to resolve this before harvest.' Article content In a report this week, ATB Financial said the duty and tariffs from China hike the price of Canadian canola so high that they effectively block it from the massive market. Article content It also comes amid increasing global trade uncertainty that escalated this year with the U.S., although Alberta agricultural products have largely avoided tariffs from the Donald Trump administration, said ATB deputy chief economist Rob Roach. Article content 'For some individual farms, this really could make the difference between being profitable or not this year,' Roach said. Article content Alan Hampton, who farms north of Drumheller, said Friday the timing of the new Chinese tariffs is 'terrible' as harvest activities will be widespread within weeks. Article content 'Canola prices have dropped by about a buck-and-a-half a bushel in a week. My estimated unrealized loss is probably in the neighbourhood of $40,000. We don't know where the bottom is at,' Hampton said. Article content 'It's not something that farmers have brought upon themselves. I feel the government should be coming up with some type of compensation package.' Article content The federal government has been lambasted by critics in recent days for its slow reaction to the Chinese tariffs that initially began this spring, while assistance has gone to other sectors hit by U.S. tariffs. Article content At a news conference Thursday morning in Saskatchewan, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the prime minister of remaining 'silent.' Article content 'There is a tariff dispute with the Chinese government. The money raised by the Canadian government in that dispute (from EVs) should go back to the people who are paying the bills … our canola producers,' he said. Article content Earlier in the week, the premiers of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta spoke out. Article content On Friday, Calgary Chamber of Commerce CEO Deborah Yedlin also issued a statement, encouraging the federal government to 'immediately provide financial support to Canadian canola farmers and to stabilize economic relations with China.' Article content I spoke yesterday with @PremierScottMoe about China's preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola seed. If maintained, these unjustified duties will have significant impacts on many Canadian farmers. Premier Moe and I focused on a series of measures to support hard-working… — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 14, 2025 Article content On X, the prime minister said Canada doesn't dump canola and noted he'd spoken with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe about finding ways to support farmers. Article content 'The premier and I agreed to engage directly with industry leaders in the near term to discuss the options,' he said. Article content 'We will advance a constructive dialogue with Chinese officials to address our respective trade concerns, while diversifying our trade abroad and supporting our canola producers at home.' Article content In the interim, there doesn't appear to be an easy way out of the trade dispute. Article content With ongoing trade negotiations with Washington, it makes it difficult for the federal government to also focus on striking a quick resolution with Beijing on canola, said Philippe Rheault, director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta. Article content 'In the short term, it's going to force the Carney government to start triangulating when it comes to trade, as opposed to allowing itself the luxury of going in a sequential manner where they try to deal with the Americans first and the Chinese after,' he said.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Alberta agriculture minister chides Ottawa over slow response to Chinese canola tariffs
Article content 'It's blatantly obvious that the whole canola situation and the instability with trade with China started with the EV tariffs,' said Sigurdson. Article content 'What we see is an EV tariff that is meant to protect Central Canada businesses, affecting western Canadian agricultural producers. And we're calling on the federal government for immediate action to resolve this before harvest.' Article content In a report this week, ATB Financial said the duty and tariffs from China hike the price of Canadian canola so high that they effectively block it from the massive market. Article content It also comes amid increasing global trade uncertainty that escalated this year with the U.S., although Alberta agricultural products have largely avoided tariffs from the Donald Trump administration, said ATB deputy chief economist Rob Roach. Article content Article content Alan Hampton, who farms north of Drumheller, said Friday the timing of the new Chinese tariffs is 'terrible' as harvest activities will be widespread within weeks. Article content 'Canola prices have dropped by about a buck-and-a-half a bushel in a week. My estimated unrealized loss is probably in the neighbourhood of $40,000. We don't know where the bottom is at,' Hampton said. Article content 'It's not something that farmers have brought upon themselves. I feel the government should be coming up with some type of compensation package.' Article content The federal government has been lambasted by critics in recent days for its slow reaction to the Chinese tariffs that initially began this spring, while assistance has gone to other sectors hit by U.S. tariffs. Article content At a news conference Thursday morning in Saskatchewan, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the prime minister of remaining 'silent.' Article content 'There is a tariff dispute with the Chinese government. The money raised by the Canadian government in that dispute (from EVs) should go back to the people who are paying the bills … our canola producers,' he said. Article content Earlier in the week, the premiers of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta spoke out. Article content On Friday, Calgary Chamber of Commerce CEO Deborah Yedlin also issued a statement, encouraging the federal government to 'immediately provide financial support to Canadian canola farmers and to stabilize economic relations with China.' Article content I spoke yesterday with @PremierScottMoe about China's preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian canola seed. If maintained, these unjustified duties will have significant impacts on many Canadian farmers. Premier Moe and I focused on a series of measures to support hard-working… — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 14, 2025 Article content On X, the prime minister said Canada doesn't dump canola and noted he'd spoken with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe about finding ways to support farmers. Article content 'The premier and I agreed to engage directly with industry leaders in the near term to discuss the options,' he said. Article content 'We will advance a constructive dialogue with Chinese officials to address our respective trade concerns, while diversifying our trade abroad and supporting our canola producers at home.' Article content In the interim, there doesn't appear to be an easy way out of the trade dispute. Article content With ongoing trade negotiations with Washington, it makes it difficult for the federal government to also focus on striking a quick resolution with Beijing on canola, said Philippe Rheault, director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta. Article content 'In the short term, it's going to force the Carney government to start triangulating when it comes to trade, as opposed to allowing itself the luxury of going in a sequential manner where they try to deal with the Americans first and the Chinese after,' he said. Article content
Global News
6 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Alberta government says canola tariffs are a 'devastating blow' to farmers
Alberta's agriculture minister is calling on the federal government to engage in constructive dialogue with China following its decision to slap tariffs on Canadian canola seed. In a statement emailed to media on Tuesday afternoon, R-J Sigurdson says the planned 75.8 per cent tariff is 'another devastating blow' to the province's agriculture industry, coming on top of existing 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola meal and oil. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The minister says nearly 70 per cent of Alberta's canola seed exports are destined for China. 'China is Alberta's second-largest agricultural export market, worth $2.4 billion in 2024, with canola, peas and pork making up $1.7 billion of that trade,' Sigurdson said in the statement. Beijing says the measure will start Thursday, nearly a year after it launched an anti-dumping probe into Canadian canola in response to Canada's 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Baby Rolls Away While Sleeping—Mom's Quick Thinking Caught on Camera
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A co-sleeping mom has captured her quick response to her baby rolling away from her in bed. Jillian Sigurdson (@jillianmothers) from Ontario, Canada, posted footage from a camera she installed in their bedroom where she sleeps with her 13-month-old daughter. In the Instagram reel, the baby rolls away from her mom in their shared bed, and despite being "dead asleep" Sigurdson's arm instinctively reaches out to ensure she knows where she is. Footage from bedroom camera showing a mom and 13-month-old baby in bed together in the night. Footage from bedroom camera showing a mom and 13-month-old baby in bed together in the night. @jillianmothers "She wasn't in any danger–she could have rolled away with no issue–but that's not the point of the video," the 30-year-old told Newsweek. "It showcases the deep-rooted bond between mother and child: as soon as she stirs, I respond. I'm completely asleep and have no recollection of it happening, but even in my sleep, I'm aware of where she is." For Sigurdson, co-sleeping wasn't the original plan when she had her first child just over a year ago. "I had every intention of using a bassinet, a crib and following the ABCs of sleep," she said. But her daughter refused to sleep unless she was right beside her mother. "She woke up within seconds of being laid down, every single time," Sigurdson said. "I didn't try once or twice; I tried for months. I had no other options. In my case, it became a risk evaluation." Her setup is carefully designed for safety–a floor bed in a fully baby-proofed room. "There's a specific set of guidelines called the Safe Sleep Seven that outlines how to do it safely," she told Newsweek. "If you meet the criteria and can co-sleep safely, the benefits are immense for both mother and baby." Isadora Ambrose, a certified holistic health infant sleep specialist and mom of three believes it's important to normalize the conversation around co-sleeping so families feel empowered to make informed choices. "The blanket message to never co-sleep often leads to unsafe co-sleeping practices, as exhausted parents fall asleep unintentionally in unsafe environments like sofas or recliners," Ambrose said. In her five years' experience of supporting co-sleeping families, many parents lie about their choice to co-sleep for fear and judgment. This silence prevents them from accessing the education and support they need to create safe sleep environments. "Parents are often told to trust devices, gadgets or external solutions over their own instincts and biological connection to their baby," she said. Clocking up six million views, Sigurdson's reel has drawn mixed reactions online, with hundreds of comments of support and criticism. "The comments are very mixed, about 50/50 between mothers who can relate and staunch anti-co-sleepers," she told Newsweek. Instagram appears to show comments based on the viewer's perspective: supporters often see supportive comments, while critics tend to see critiques, Sigurdson said. "That's important to know–the comment section doesn't truly lean in one direction," she added. Beyond the attention and new followers, Sigurdson hopes to use her platform to educate. "Teaching safe co-sleeping to new mothers is harm reduction," she said. "The U.S. has some of the highest rates of sleep-related infant deaths among wealthy nations, despite their strict guidelines against co-sleeping. Shaming mothers who co-sleep doesn't protect babies–education does."
Vancouver Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
'Time to put emotions aside': Alberta's case against retaliatory tariffs
'American ranchers and farmers are definitely a large part of the base that elected President Trump,' says Alberta's minister of agriculture and irrigation, RJ Sigurdson. Article content Article content And, Sigurdson tells me, this is what they're telling him: 'Listen, we have provided a runway for the president to tackle and move forward with his strategy related to tariff inequities.' But as farmers move into their planting season, they're also saying, time is running out, 'that runway is getting very, very short.' Farmers were able to defer decision-making, until now; it's planting season and choices about whether to plant, what to plant and how many acres to plant, have to be made. Article content Article content I wanted to talk to Sigurdson about what this tariff blitz means for farmers and ranchers on this side of the Canada-U.S. border. In 2019, Sigurdson was first elected as MLA for Highwood in southern Alberta, and two years ago, Premier Danielle Smith moved him into cabinet. Article content Article content 'Is that a cow on your lapel?' I ask him. 'Yes, it's a Canadian cow,' he chuckles, 'a pin from the Canadian Cattle Association.' Obviously attuned to the Team Canada vibe gaining traction across the country, Sigurdson — in his green jacket and plaid shirt — has strategically planted himself between a Canadian and Alberta flag on the screen in front of me. Article content We're in a trade war and agriculture is a pawn. Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum make input costs higher for farmers, ranchers and agri-food producers, and exports have been clobbered. In the short term, that affects food affordability. Longer term — with global food demand predicted to rise between 65 to 85 per cent by 2050 — food security may be an issue. Article content Article content Although Trump is attempting to rewire America's relationship with pretty much the entire world, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs — threatened, in place and paused — stacking up between America, China and Canada are particularly onerous. In some cases, tariffs have become de facto trade embargoes; case in point being the 125 per cent retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports to China imposed after Trump announced a whopping 145 per cent tariff on Chinese imports. Article content Article content The Chinese tariffs 'have a lot of sting for farmers,' Sigurdson reports. 'China is our largest market,' he explains, 'just behind the U.S. overall, when it comes to agri-exports.' In response to Canada's punishing tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports. Article content 'You know,' Sigurdson reflects, 'when Ottawa made the decision to put tariffs on EVs from China, that was a bit of a move. I do believe they were trying to protect the automotive industry, and to back some of the changes made by the U.S.'
