Latest news with #WesternCanada
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfires prompt air quality alerts in Western and Central Canada
Air quality warnings are in effect for a large area of Western and Central Canada this weekend as wildfire smoke continues to choke parts of the country. Many communities in Manitoba, as well as northern Saskatchewan and Alberta, are facing air quality indexes of 10+, the highest possible rating.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Creating more red tape': Sask. premier's New West invitation presents a challenge
WATCH: Saskatchewan's premier is calling on provincial leaders across the country to join the New West Partnership. WATCH: Saskatchewan's premier is calling on provincial leaders across the country to join the New West Partnership. A Saskatchewan economist says removing internal trade barriers may not be as straightforward as it seems as economies and agreements become more complex the farther they stretch. On Thursday, Premier Scott Moe invited provincial leaders across the country to join the New West Partnership, an interprovincial trade agreement that aims to streamline the movement of goods and workers. Keith Willoughby, the dean of Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, says while New West provides a level of uncertainty in an increasingly uncertain economic time, its effectiveness could be limited with more provinces signing on. 'Weaving together a thread that will encompass the entire nation, that's a challenge,' Willoughby said. 'I think where we've seen it work well in Western Canada, it's not necessarily certain that this is going to have that same positive impact when you extend it across the nation.' Willoughby says each province has its own interests and own industries that drive each respective economy. Targeting each priority might undermine another facet of the agreement. By working to coordinate regulations and standards across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the New West Partnership has aimed to open up trade between the western provinces and potentially unlock billions in financial gains. The partnership was first established in 2010, with Manitoba signing on in 2017. Moe says his goal is to see all provinces sign on to the agreement, but he understands it won't fix all economic issues. 'It doesn't solve everything,' Moe said Thursday. 'But it's the clearest and most straightforward path towards not only free and fair trade.' However, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business isn't so sure. If the New West is so comprehensive, then what happens to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)? 'One thing we'd be wary of is sort of creating this patchwork of legislation,' Brianna Solberg, the organization's director of the prairies and northern Canada said. 'We're all for moving closer to a truly free trade within Canada. But we're just cautious of having this patchwork of different agreements that are now existing at the same time and just creating more red tape.' Solberg supports however provinces get to that end of goal of increased free trade, but she also understands exemptions and various agreements exist for a reason. Ontario eliminated all of its exemptions to CFTA recently, but she's not sure others will follow suite. With much progress made in recent months towards added free trade within Canada, memorandums of understanding and signatures only go so far. 'Provinces are being a bit protectionist,' Solberg said. 'They're trying to protect their tax base and their labor pool. 'We need to see actions that actually prove that we're serious about breaking down those barriers. ' Willoughby said recent reports from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the McDonald Laurier Institute have estimated that the impact of reducing trade barriers would be a roughly four to five per cent boost to the Canadian gross domestic product (GDP)., but it's tough to quantify because no one knows what an economy void of longstanding agreements would look like. One thing is for certain, according to Willoughby. With tariff threats and other political and economic uncertainty coming from the United States — Canada's largest trading partner — there needs to be added emphasis on international trade as well. Willoughby says interprovincial trade is like a home builder looking to replace shingles on a damaged roof, while international trade is looking to build a new house somewhere else. 'We almost need to do both of those if we're going to thrive,' Willoughby said. Data from the federal government shows interprovincial trade accounted for roughly $532 billion in 2023 -- representing a little over 18 per cent of overall GDP. Willoughby says four decades ago it accounted for about 26 per cent. 'International trade is growing, interprovincial trade is dropping,' he said. -With files from Rory MacLean and David Prisciak.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian wheat, canola crops a 'mixed bag,' with rain critical
By Ed White LANGHAM, Saskatchewan (Reuters) -Canadian farmers are likely to produce average-size wheat and canola crops this autumn, but years of drought have made rain critical for the plants to fulfill their potential, farmers and analysts said this week at the Ag in Motion farm show. In eastern Saskatchewan, Robert Andjelic, a major Canadian farmland investor, said he was seeing lush, dense crops of spring wheat and canola in perfect condition. In southwestern Saskatchewan, however, he described spring wheat dying under the pressure of extreme drought. Across Western Canada, he saw a wide range of "terrible" to "terrific" crops, he said. "It's such a mixed bag," he said while touring some of the more than 225,000 acres (91,000 hectares) he owns across the prairie provinces. Canada is the world's largest exporter of canola, durum wheat, and some pulse crops such as lentils, with China, the United States, Japan, Mexico, North Africa, and India among its largest buyers. Its spring wheat crop is vital to millers around the globe, and U.S. grocery shelf staples such as Cheerios cereal and Quaker oatmeal rely on Canadian oats. Analysts and farmers interviewed by Reuters said they expect the country's total crop output to be about the same as last year, when farmers also endured a wide range of conditions, but still produced one of Canada's biggest crops ever. While that probably means Canada's canola and spring wheat production will be about the same as last year, when farmers produced average-sized harvests, the outlook is worse for durum wheat and lentils, which farmers grow in some of the areas hit by extreme dryness. "They have been under these conditions too long," crop analyst Bruce Burnett of MarketsFarm said about some durum and lentil crops in the southwestern Prairies, adding that some were being baled for livestock feed. Farmers said cereal grains such as wheat and durum were developing far fewer kernels per plant because of drought in some areas, resulting in lower yields. Burnett estimates Canadian durum yield will be less than last year's 34 bushels per acre, which was an average yield. Most farmers need at least one more significant rainfall for grain kernels to fill out, farmers and analysts said. Burnett said canola crops were benefiting from cooler weather this July than last year, when scorching heat damaged millions of acres that were in the crucial flowering stage. Smoky air from forest fires was making the sunlight less direct and harsh, he said. The oilseed is crushed mainly to produce vegetable oil and animal feed. Statistics Canada is scheduled to issue its first crop production estimates of the year on August 28. Farmer adviser Rob Saik, who drove across central Alberta and Saskatchewan to the farm show, said some parts of the Prairies were producing durum, lentils, and canola hammered by drought, but in most places, "we're in pretty good shape." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Olive Garden expanding across Canada
Canadians will soon enjoy the full Olive Garden experience, as the Italian-inspired chain famous for its unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks prepares for a major expansion across the country. Olive Garden currently has locations in every U.S. state. Recipe Unlimited, a major Canadian franchisor, has acquired Olive Garden's eight existing Western Canada locations. This deal also grants Recipe Unlimited exclusive rights to develop and operate all future Olive Garden restaurants across Canada. According to Recipe CEO Frank Hennessey, the Olive Garden acquisition and development agreement are a 'perfect' fit for the company's strategy. He stated in a press release that he sees 'immense potential for growth' by expanding their casual dining presence with brands that appeal to Canadian consumers. A key to Olive Garden's widespread success, in both Canada and the U.S., is its popular offering of unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks with any entree purchase. Diners ordering soup or salad individually also receive endless servings of these freshly-baked breadsticks. Recipe Unlimited plans to reveal more expansion details as 'development plans take shape,' and National Post has reached out for further information. The eight existing Olive Garden locations, previously run by U.S.-based Darden Restaurants, include three in Alberta (two in Edmonton, one in Calgary), two in Winnipeg, and one each in Saskatoon, Regina, and Langley, B.C. Last month, Darden CEO Rick Cardenas revealed that Recipe Unlimited has committed to opening 30 new Olive Garden locations in Canada over the next decade. This expansion is expected to include a return to Ontario, where Darden previously closed 11 Olive Garden restaurants in 1997, including seven in Toronto and two in Ottawa. Olive Garden first opened its doors in Orlando, Florida, in 1982, initially as part of General Mills. The original restaurant still operates today. In 1995, General Mills spun off its restaurant brands, including Olive Garden and Red Lobster, into the newly formed Darden Restaurants. Olive Garden currently boasts over 900 U.S. locations, with more than a quarter concentrated in Texas, Florida, and California. Beyond the U.S. and soon Canada, the brand has a significant international presence, most notably in Mexico with 13 restaurants, and locations in Brazil, Panama, El Salvador, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Further expansion is planned for Costa Rica and the Philippines. Darden CEO Rick Cardenas recently announced agreements for 40 new Olive Garden restaurants in India and Spain. Annually, Olive Garden generates over $4 billion in sales, solidifying its position as the leading Italian casual dining restaurant in the United States.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘That'll change soon': Technology front and centre at Sask. Ag In Motion
WATCH: Western Canada's largest farm expo is officially underway in Langham. Here's what producers are talking about at this year's event.
