Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

National Agriculture Leaders Debate: It Can Be Watched online. What Should They Discuss? What Did You Think of the Debate?

Agricultural issues such as trade, business risk management, environmental sustainability, food safety, and a National Food Strategy will be key topics of discussion for the Minister of Agriculture and opposition party critics during the Canadian Federation of Agriculture's national debate, scheduled for Mon. April 11, 2011. 
 
WHAT: 
CFA National Agriculture Leaders Debate
 
WHO: 
  • Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Gerry Ritz
  • André Bellavance, Bloq Québécois agriculture critic
  • Wayne Easter, Liberal agriculture critic 
  • Pat Martin, NDP representative
  • Kate Storey, Green Party agriculture representative
WHEN: 
Monday, April 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
 
Here is the link to the CFA website where it will be streamed.

Views: 82

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on April 12, 2011 at 1:15am

It took a couple of hours to watch the Agriculture Leaders debate.

I did find it to be entertaining but with out much substance.

The party ag leaders did make some points and presented some their party's agri platforms.

 

The NDP Ag Policy can be found in “Food for Thought.” Report.

Here is the link:   http://xfer.ndp.ca/FoodForThought/EN.pdf

 

The Green Party was particularly interesting - No to GMOs...they want small farms, local processing and more organic production.  I don't think their ag platform is very modern farm friendly.

 

All the parties were supportive of Supply Management.

 

Joe

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on April 12, 2011 at 2:00am

Here is the link to the online taped video of the Ag Leaders Debate.

 

http://www.cfa-fca.ca/national-agriculture-leaders-debate-live

Permalink Reply by John Schwartzentruber on April 12, 2011 at 2:04am

So how do you think the multinational processors would view the Green's position? As a bit of a threat to their dominance perhaps?

 

What might we learn from that?

 

Whatever one's view of the Green Party might be, if they propose something that would actually contribute to fair returns for work and goods produced rather than being paid subsistence value for generic, bulk commodities that enrich the remote multinationals, then they have at least that redemptive feature to their credit.

 

How well has the mainstream served the interests of  even the modern farm? And a fair answer would include the views of hog and cattle farmers.

 

Ritz was less than honest.

 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

The issue of foreign ownership of farmland rose to the surface again at the Legislature. During Question Period last Thursday, the opposition NDP accused the Sask. Party government of not taking the issue seriously and failing to enforce the illegal purchase of farmland by foreign entities. “We’ve been calling on that government from the moment they’ve been elected, and they look the other way and have failed to enforce the law,” said Trent Wotherspoon, deputy agriculture shadow minister. “There’s so much more that we need to do. The Farm Land Security Board needs more resources and real teeth. The fines for breaking the law need to be more than a slap on the wrist. And most importantly, the government must audit and enforce the divestiture of land acquired and owned by foreign entities that have breached the law and caused the forfeiture of profit in its divestiture.” Wotherspoon went on to say that no ‘foreign entity, governments like China or criminal organizations’ should be abl

Federal strychnine ban review may help control gopher ‘plague’ on Sask. crops

Farmers and rural officials across Saskatchewan say Ottawa’s decision to review the strychnine ban could finally bring relief in the fight against gophers. Still, some warn that the solution needs to balance effectiveness and safety. At the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) midterm convention in Regina, delegates announced a resolution calling on the federal government to either reintroduce strychnine or provide a cost-effective alternative for pest control. The once-common chemical was banned by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) in 2023, leaving producers with few reliable options. SARM President Bill Huber told delegates that the association had received a verbal commitment from Ottawa to review the use of strychnine in emergencies, with support from provincial and municipal governments. “We also asked for the reinstatement of strychnine to manage Richardson’s ground squirrels,” Huber said. “They’re not just a nuisance, they’re a plagu

Foreign ownership of farmland a hot topic at Sask. Legislature

The issue of foreign ownership of farm land rose to the surface again at the Saskatchewan Legislature. During Question Period on Thursday, NDP Leader, and Agriculture Shadow Minister, Carla Beck accused the Sask. Party government of not taking the issue seriously.  "Mr. Speaker, the (Provincial) Auditor and SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) have both sounded the alarm when it comes to the wide gaps in the system that supposed to ensure that only Canadians can buy Saskatchewan farmland. Will the Premier finally admit what most people on coffee row already understand, and that is that his government has failed to ensure that...those foreign interests can't buy up Saskatchewan farmland." Beck asked. In response, Moe noted "increases in the stringency on ownership in this province" and ensured that "there is an ongoing discussion and a committee that is going to be engaging with (land) owners to ensure that we have this right all the time in this province."  The p

2026 regional Outstanding Young Farmer nomination deadlines approaching

Most nominations are due by the end of 2025

Ag in the House: Nov. 3 – 7

Conservatives targeted the industrial carbon tax and its effect on Canadian ag and food

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service