Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) issued a statement on the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Country of Origin Labelling (COOL). “Today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives sends a strong bipartisan message that COOL must be repealed once and for all,” said Ritz. “While this marks a positive step, the only … Read more
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) is leading a mission to Washington, D.C., this week where he will reassert Canada’s position that the United States (U.S.) must repeal its protectionist Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) measure for beef and pork that is harming the North American livestock industry or face retaliatory measures. This latest mission comes … Read more
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) announced the appointment of Alistair Johnston as chairperson of the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) Board of Directors. Mr. Johnston’s appointment is for a 4-year term effective Aug. 1st, 2015. More information is available online.
The Government of Canada has announced a final list of designated regions where tax deferrals have been authorized for 2014 due to the impact of drought or excessive moisture conditions on forage production. The tax deferral allows eligible producers in designated regions to defer income tax on the sale of their breeding livestock for one … Read more
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea (Egmont, P.E.I.), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.), announced an investment of nearly $2.5 million over two years to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) to help the aquaculture industry increase the domestic and international market share for Canadian aquaculture products. This investment will enable the CAIA … Read more
Conservative MPs Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills, Ont.) and Harold Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga, Ont.) announced an investment of $183,929 to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) to help ensure that livestock and poultry are transported in a safe and humane manner by certified transporters. This support will allow CAHC to develop an on-line driver training and driver verification system, based on the … Read more
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs Paul Calandra (Oak Ridges-Markham, Ont.) announced an investment of $785,660 to the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) to help promote the Canadian organic sector and increase the visibility of the Canadian organic brand in international markets. This investment will enable COTA to attend international conferences and trade shows … Read more
Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley, B.C.) announced funding for two initiatives worth up to $1.58 million to help BC poultry producers re-establish their operations and mitigate the impact of future risks following an outbreak of notifiable avian influenza in the Fraser Valley this past winter. The full release is available online.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) has concluded his second agricultural mission to Turkey where he participated in the G20 Ministerial Agricultural Meeting. At the G20, Minister Ritz advocated agricultural innovation, including biotechnology, to increase safe food production, sustainably, and improve farmers’ incomes. He also called on G20 members to support international free trade to ensure … Read more
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.) will attend the G20 Ministerial Agricultural Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, from 7-8 May where 20 members will discuss how the G20 can support progress towards the achievement of sustainable food systems. More information is available online. Call 613-773-1059.
