Endangered Species Act change approved for further study Saturday, May 12, 2012 by SUSAN MANN A private member’s bill that would make it mandatory for the Natural Resources Ministry to consider social and economic factors as part of species recovery strategies squeaked through second reading Thursday. Proposed by Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott, Bill 73 passed by just one vote - the tally was 30 in favour, 29 opposed. The proposal has now been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for further study. No date has been set yet for committee hearings on the proposal that would amend the Endangered Species Act. “I’ll take the win,” Scott says of her proposed bill narrowly winning approval. As part of considering social and economic factors in species recovery and habitat protection strategies, Scott says that should include a cost-benefit analysis including job losses and the loss of land use. Scott, the Progressive Conservative natural resources critic, says she has heard repeated stories of people being afraid to report a discovery of an endangered species because of punitive restrictions that could be imposed on them. The current Endangered Species Act isn’t working for endangered species or landowners, she notes. Scott says she hopes the committee will hold public hearings as they discuss her amendment “and they need to travel outside Toronto. This is predominately a rural issue.” BF Feds eye tender fruit damage Different policies for different sized farms?
Tom Green bringing celebrities to his Ont. farm Tuesday, May 12, 2026 A Canadian known for his comedic chops in Hollywood is bringing some friends to his Ontario farm. THE TOM GREEN FARM, starring Tom Green, whose movie credits include Road Trip and Charlie’s Angels, begins airing on May 29 on Crave. The backdrop of the show is Green’s 150-acre farm in... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Monday, May 11, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online
When Grain Stops Moving Rail and Port Delays Cost Canada Up to $540 Million Monday, May 11, 2026 A new economic analysis commissioned by the Agriculture Transport Coalition has found that just one week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million. The majority of these losses stem from missed export sales that cannot be... Read this article online
Severe May 9 Storm Batters Farms and Rural Infrastructure Across Ontario Monday, May 11, 2026 A fast-moving but powerful storm system swept across large portions of Ontario on Saturday, May 9, 2026, leaving farms and rural communities dealing with damaged infrastructure, delayed fieldwork, and localized crop losses during one of the most important periods of the spring growing... Read this article online
Are we Seeing the Top of the Commodity Markets with Corn Above $5 and Soybeans at $12? Monday, May 11, 2026 Grain markets delivered another volatile yet bullish week as corn climbed above $5 per bushel, soybeans topped $12, wheat traded near $7, and canola approached $750, according to the latest for the week of May 4 to 8, 2026. Experts Farms.com Moe Agostino, chief commodity strategist... Read this article online