Opinion

Op Ed – Detrimental Manitoba Budget 2021 takes far more than it gives

The National Farmers Union in Manitoba views the 2021 provincial budget as detrimental to farmers and its own citizens. The massive tax breaks to farmland may seem like an initial win to established farmers, but the long term results will proliferate a pattern that will be costly to the next generation of all farmers and rural communities. Agriculture received a mere 2% budget increase, which can be seen in the attempt to consolidate the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation delivery model and use digital technology as a replacement for local service, which moves crucial MASC further from Manitoba farmers.

Op-Ed: Regenerate Canada’s beef sector by addressing corporate concentration

By Iain Aitken In a recent report from Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), its president Bob Lowe stated that there is a critical need for better Business Risk Management tools for

Op Ed: PEI Government and Irving Work Hard To Keep Islanders in the Dark

By Edith Ling Those who have nothing to hide do not fear the light. Ethical people welcome transparency in their dealings and actions. They don’t hide behind the veil of

Op Ed: US farm groups and unions ask Biden to end CUSMA attack on Canada’s supply management system

This Op Ed was originally published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives on The Monitor Online. On February 1, American farm, labour and civil society organizations formally asked the Biden-Harris

Op Ed: Farmers’ Mental Health has Economic Roots

Charlottetown, PEI The Island Minister of Agriculture, Bloyce Thompson said this past week that more Island Farmers are reaching out for mental health support through the PEI Farmers Assistance Program. 

Letter to Minister Popham – Stop Site C

Dear Minister Popham, I am writing to share with you an important resolution passed by the membership of the National Farmers Union at our annual convention held online in November

A vibrant small-scale meat industry for British Columbians

NFU recommendations to BC Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture has recently released an Intentions Paper on “Rural Slaughter Modernization.” We are very excited to see the MoA tackling the complex issues facing the meat processing

What to know about climate change

The greatest threat to Canadian agriculture is climate change. Unless all nations slash greenhouse gas emissions, Canadian farmers will face large temperature increases, intensifying droughts and floods, the loss of

 2020 hindsight: Ending the Canadian Wheat Board was an economic tragedy

August 1st 2020 marks the 8th anniversary of one of the great economic tragedies in Canadian history. This was the day the wrecking ball swung by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz finally destroyed one of the most important institutions working for economic justice for farmers - the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). In a malicious act driven by wrong-headed doctrine, they chose to eliminate the CWB through the Orwellian-titled Marketing Freedom for Farmers Act.

Is a $4 Billion Irrigation Expansion a Good Investment for Saskatchewan Farms?

The greatest threat to Saskatchewan farms is climate change. Thus, we should ask: should the Saskatchewan and federal governments spend $4 billion on irrigation infrastructure? Can this investment really protect a significant number of farms or acres from climate change? Or could the money be better spent on other projects or in other ways? How should we spend taxpayers’ limited dollars?