Beavers, ostriches enter the wheat board debate Sunday, December 4, 2011 From Hansard: Oct. 25, 2011Mr. Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, NDP): "Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives really believe that Prairie grain farmers will make more money by selling their grain outside of the Canadian Wheat Board, then that means every single Conservative MP involved in the grain industry is in a conflict of interest and must recuse themselves from the vote on Bill C-18 . . ."Gerry Ritz: Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board: "Mr. Speaker, farmers will never be intimidated by what I think is a lingering case of beaver fever over there . . ." Martin: "Mr. Speaker, coming from a failed ostrich jockey, I do not know what the member knows about beaver fever . . ."The Speaker (Andrew Scheer): "Order. I think some of these metaphors involving animals may be causing a little disorder in the House. I would urge all hon. members to try to avoid using them so that we can get through question period."Ritz: "Mr. Speaker, that is sound advice. Over the top never works. I will say that farming ostrich allowed me the opportunity to get used to working with the lesser life forms I sometimes see here on the floor of the House of Commons . . ."The Speaker: "Order. Similarly, those types of comments when referring to our colleagues are also unhelpful during question period."("Beaver fever" generally refers to Giardiasis, a parasitic disease causing diarrhea. Beavers and muskrats harbour the water-born cysts.) BF Cover Story: The cash-crunch woes of rural municipalities Debate over global warming causes heat
Ont. farmer Tony McQuail reflects on NDP leadership race Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Huron County farmer Tony McQuail is back at Meeting Place Organic Farm in Lucknow after vying to replace Jagmeet Singh as the leader of the federal NDP. “It was a very hopeful and positive experience for me,” he told Farms.com. “I was very pleased with what we were able to bring to the... Read this article online
Broadband Access is a Defining Issue for Rural Canada’s Future Monday, March 30, 2026 Broadband connectivity took centre stage during the on March 26, as speakers emphasized that reliable, high-speed internet is now foundational to rural economic growth, community well-being, and Canada’s broader ambitions in technology and resource development. The Coalition’s latest... Read this article online
Rural Canada Is an Economic Powerhouse that Policymakers Need to Build Upon Monday, March 30, 2026 Rural Canada is a far bigger driver of the national economy than many policymakers realize, and leaders say the time has come to place a rural lens at the centre of public policy decision-making. That message was front and centre during the Coalition for a Better Future’s Scorecard... Read this article online
Spring Swine Events Across Canada that are Not to be Missed Monday, March 30, 2026 It’s a sure sign of Spring, several swine events will be taking place over the next few months. Between April and June 2026, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario will all host significant swine-focused events, ranging from producer AGMs and pork quality competitions to large-scale... Read this article online
Boosting Wheat Production with Better Nitrogen Use Monday, March 30, 2026 A University of Guelph research team is pioneering new ways to grow wheat more sustainably by improving nitrogen efficiency and supporting soil health. Dr. Kari Dunfield, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the Ontario Agricultural College, received $3.92 million from the... Read this article online