Colleen McElwain's Page

TELUS investing $15 billion in British Columbia through 2029 to enhance connectivity, support Canadian AI leadership and fuel economic growth

TELUS is investing more than $15 billion over the next five years to expand and enhance its network infrastructure and operations across British Columbia. As Canada navigates a challenging economic environment and seeks to attract more investment in the country to stimulate growth, this commitment to the province's future will help fuel homegrown innovation and support the prosperity of urban and rural communities. This investment builds on an impressive track record, with TELUS having invested more than $66 billion in B.C. since 2000, and is part of a larger commitment to deploy a total of $70 billion by 2029 across Canada to boost productivity and support a robust national economy. "For more than 125 years, TELUS has been headquartered in Western Canada, building a legacy of advancing British Columbia's economic and social prosperity. Indeed, against a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty, TELUS stands as one of the few companies committing to bold, future-focused technology invest

Fall in Crop Receipts Helps Drag 2024 Farm Income Lower

The steepest fall in crop returns in more than two decades badly dented Canadian farm income last year, according to preliminary numbers released by Statistics Canada Wednesday. The federal agency pegged 2024 realized net income for Canadian farmers at $9.4 billion, down $3.3 billion or almost 26% from the previous year. That marked the largest year-over-year percentage decline in realized net income since 2018, when it tumbled 41% to $4.2 billion, mainly due to sharply higher farm expenses. Stripping cannabis out of the equation made the fall in realized net farm income a bit less steep – down 23% to $9.7 billion – although still significant. Realized net income is the difference between a farmer's cash receipts and operating expenses, minus depreciation, plus income in kind. Mainly the result of lower prices for most major grains and oilseeds, total Canadian crop receipts fell 6.2% to $52.1 billion in 2024, the largest percentage drop in crop receipts since 2003. Wheat (ex

Saskatchewan Seeding Reaches 88% Complete

Saskatchewan producers made good seeding progress again this past week, with most crops developing normally. Thursday’s crop report estimated provincewide seeding at 88% complete as of Monday, up from 72% a week earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 82% and 85%. Rainfall was variable across the province with some producers in the southeast regions experiencing increased amounts. The highest reported rainfall was in the Weyburn area at 66 millimetres (mm). However, other areas reported dry, windy conditions, and topsoil moisture levels did show some erosion compared to a week earlier. Cropland topsoil moisture across the province was rated 4% surplus, 65% adequate and 27% short as of Monday, versus 6% surplus, 69% adequate, 22% short, and 3% very short the previous week. Fall cereals are currently rated at 89% normal crop development for this time of year, with 7% ahead and 4% behind normal. Spring cereals are estimated to be 73% normal with 13% ahead and 14% be

Trump tariffs mean fewer machinery purchases, higher costs for farmers

Ag equipment manufacturers had hoped to see sales volumes start to recover this year from the current slump, but those high expectations have been lowered by the negative yo-yo impact of U.S. tariff rates — and those tariffs will end up costing farmers in North America more for new machinery and parts, even here in Canada.

Canadian Farm Income Sees Sharp Decline

In 2024, Canadian farmers saw the biggest drop in realized net income since 2018 due to falling crop prices, reduced receipts, and rising interest and input costs.