Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after her arrival at the Stelco steel plant in Hamilton on May 17, 2019, following news that the U.S. agreed to lift tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. (PMO photo by Adam Scotti)

Canada takes first step on ratifying USMCA trade deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada took a first step toward ratifying the new North American trade agreement on Monday just three days ahead of U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s trip to Ottawa to discuss the passage of the treaty. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland presented what’s known as a ways and means motion to the House of […] Read more




Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with steel workers at Stelco in Hamilton on March 13, 2018. (File photo: Reuters/Mark Blinch)

U.S. boosts trade pact’s outlook lifting tariffs on Canadian, Mexican metals

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington/Ottawa | Reuters — The United States struck deals on Friday to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico, the three governments said, removing a major obstacle to legislative approval of a new North American trade pact. The separate agreements, which will not impose U.S. quotas on Canadian and Mexican metals […] Read more


Newfoundland and Labrador’s minister of fisheries and land resources, Gerry Byrne, is shown here at right with Western Agriculture Centre research manager Sabrina Ellsworth and the department’s “Agri-Truck” promotional vehicle at Pynn’s Brook in September 2018. (Gov.nl.ca)

Newfoundland’s ag minister, critic returned in election

Reading Time: 2 minutes The cabinet minister in charge of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Forestry and Agrifoods Agency held onto his seat in Thursday’s provincial election, as has his critic across the aisle. Gerry Byrne, the Liberal MHA for Corner Brook since 2015 and the province’s minister of fisheries and land resources since 2017, held his riding on Thursday against […] Read more



A customer dines at a Burger King outlet in Shanghai on June 27, 2005. (File photo: Reuters/Ming Ming)

Restaurant Brands to boost outlets by 54 per cent within 10 years

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Restaurant Brands International said on Wednesday it plans to expand all three of its brands to more than 40,000 restaurants globally, a 54 per cent jump, over the next decade. Big fast food chains, including McDonald’s and KFC owner Yum Brands, have been aggressively expanding their international operations to counter slowing growth in […] Read more

(FCL.crs)

Co-op Feeds to shut two Prairie plants, sell another

Reading Time: 2 minutes In the face of “industry challenges,” Federated Co-operatives’ livestock feed manufacturing division plans to pull its operations from six plants down into three. Saskatoon-based Federated Co-op announced Monday it will consolidate its production of bulk and bagged cattle, horse, sheep and poultry feed into three of its existing plants, at Calgary, Saskatoon and Moosomin, Sask. […] Read more


(DusanPetkovic/iStock/Getty Images)

Ottawa looks to speed up emergency access to livestock drugs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Livestock drugs not currently available in Canada could become easier to access in emergencies, if proposals for amended federal drug regulations get on the books. Health Canada, proposing to streamline the processes for emergency access to drugs for livestock as well as people and pets, on Friday announced a public comment period on its proposals, […] Read more

Warren Buffett has a Dairy Queen ice cream bar before Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha on May 6, 2017. (File photo: Reuters/Rick Wilking)

Dairy Queen CEO tries to find new tastes, keep franchisees happy

Reading Time: 2 minutes Omaha | Reuters — The chief executive of International Dairy Queen Inc. is counting on the 79-year-old brand, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, to adapt to changing consumer tastes rather than latch onto the latest fad, while ensuring that rising labour and food costs don’t squelch its franchisees. Troy Bader, who became CEO in […] Read more