Gerry Ritz, shown here in Winnipeg in April, may be a tough act to follow in the ag portfolio for a Liberal government with a limited depth chart in the ag sector. (Dave Bedard photo)

Binkley: Speculation swirls on Grits’ successor for Ritz

Reading Time: 3 minutes The guessing game on whom the next agriculture minister will be is well underway in Ottawa although no obvious choice stands out. Whoever Justin Trudeau selects will find Gerry Ritz a tough act to follow. During his eight years in the portfolio, he has put an increasing production and export stamp on the industry. And […] Read more


(Liberal.ca)

Most of farm file’s handlers to return to Commons

Reading Time: 4 minutes Most federal parliamentarians with experience in the agriculture and agri-food portfolio will be back in the House of Commons under a new majority Liberal government. As of Tuesday morning, prime minister-elect Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were elected or leading in 184 of 338 seats, for a decisive majority following Monday’s federal election. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives return […] Read more

Global markets: U.S. Federal Reserve and China’s economy

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. CANADIAN ELECTION — The Canadian Federal election is today, and market participants will be following the outcome closely. U.S. FED OFFICAL SAYS IT’S TOO SOON TO TALK ABOUT INTEREST RATE — New York Federal Reserve President, William Dudley, said it’s too […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. hopes to release TPP text in 30 days

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — The U.S. administration hopes to release the full text of a Pacific trade deal within the next 30 days, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in an interview with CNN. The U.S. sealed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 trading partners this week, after more than five years of negotiations. “The lawyers are […] Read more

(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Market access, income supports come with Trans-Pacific pact

Reading Time: 5 minutes Canada’s federal government has pledged a suite of compensation programs for supply-managed dairy, poultry and egg sectors, against what it promises will be a mousehole in Canada’s tariff wall. Federal officials on Monday confirmed negotiations have concluded on the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership, now billed as “the largest, most ambitious free trade initiative in history.” The […] Read more


(Tkeban Jahannes photo courtesy AtlantaGa.gov via Flickr)

Pacific trade ministers extend talks through Saturday

Reading Time: 2 minutes Atlanta | Reuters — Pacific trade ministers are extending talks on a free trade deal between a dozen nations through Saturday in a bid to reach a final agreement, representatives from Japan and Mexico said Thursday. Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said the extension on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Atlanta showed ministers thought there […] Read more

(USTR.gov)

NDP would not feel bound by Pacific trade deal

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s main opposition party said Friday that if it won an Oct. 19 election, it would not feel bound by the terms of a major Pacific trade deal the ruling Conservatives are negotiating in the United States. The New Democrats, currently trailing third in the polls, said in a letter to […] Read more


(FarmBoy Productions/AGCanada.com)

Supply management the hot button at ag debate

Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — Representatives from Canada’s five main parties met Wednesday in Ottawa to discuss and debate farm policy ranging from risk management to transportation and rural infrastructure ahead of the Oct. 19 federal election. The hot button issue of the debate, however, was Canada’s supply management systems for dairy, poultry and eggs. The topic […] Read more

(Tkeban Jahannes photo courtesy AtlantaGa.gov via Flickr)

Producer groups lobby for TPP deal in Atlanta

Reading Time: 3 minutes Several Canadian grain and livestock commodity groups have representatives in Atlanta this week pressing for federal negotiators to keep Canada in play on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trade ministers from the 12 TPP countries — also including the U.S., Mexico, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam — are meeting in […] Read more