Federal government invites comments on TPP environmental impacts Tuesday, January 15, 2013 by SUSAN MANNPeople with opinions on significant environmental impacts in Canada of the Canada-Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are invited to submit their comments to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.The closing date for submissions is Jan. 30.Canada and Mexico entered the negotiations last fall. The other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Together these countries represent a market of almost 658 million people and a combined GDP of $20.7 trillion, according to a background document on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website.Canadian companies exported $340.8 billion worth of goods to Trans-Pacific member countries in 2011. That’s equivalent to more than 76 per cent of Canada’s global total.Canada is seeking to increase these numbers by “building on our existing partnerships and enhancing conditions for trade and investment in the region as a whole,” the document says.The Canadian government announced on Canada Gazette last month that it intends to do a strategic environmental assessment of the free trade agreement. Submissions to identify likely and significant environmental impacts in Canada of the trade agreement should be directed to the trade policy and negotiations division (Trans-Pacific Partnership) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.The latest of 15 rounds of negotiations took place in Auckland, New Zealand last month. The goal is to conclude the agreement this year. The next negotiating round is scheduled for March 4-13 in Singapore. BF Fruit and vegetable growers recognize seasonal workers' management service Commercial feed costs inflate index
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online