Policy processes

Union Farmer Quarterly: Winter 2019

In this issue: Messages from the Editorial Advisory Committee, President Katie Ward, Women’s President Toby Malloy, Youth President Stuart Oke; reports from First-Time Convention Attendees Introducing Jessie Macinnis, Youth Vice President; Riley Côté-Demerchant, Region 1 Board Member Resolutions passed at the NFU’s 49th Annual Convention, November 22nd to 24th, 2018 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Remembering Brendan Read more

Seed Synergy: the back story

Over the last two months farmers have become aware of an ominous drive coordinated by elements of Canada’s seed industry and financially aided by our Federal Government that is attempting to eliminate our right to freely save and reuse our own seed. Read more

NFU applies for Intervenor Status in Climate Change Constitutional Case

In April 2018 the government of Saskatchewan decided to challenge the federal government’s jurisdiction in regard to climate action measures, arguing its Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act reaches beyond federal powers. To date, the governments of Ontario and New Brunswick are intervening in support of Saskatchewan while the government of BC is supporting the federal Read more

Family Farm Organizations From U.S., Canada Oppose Signing Of New NAFTA

The reworked agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico neglects the demands of farm groups

MINNEAPOLIS—The original North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been devastating for family farmers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It has promoted global agribusiness interests at the cost of family farmers and contributed to the economic and social erosion of rural communities. Rather than answer the demands of family farm groups across North Read more

Letter to Prime Minister urging Canada not to sign new NAFTA agreement in its present form

November 29, 2018 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau P.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister, Re: NFU urges Canada to not sign new NAFTA agreement on November 30, 2018 The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges Canada not to sign the new NAFTA agreement in Buenos Aires Read more

NFU urges Canada not to sign new NAFTA in its present form

(Saskatoon) – Today the National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland urging them not to sign the new NAFTA agreement in its present form. “It has recently come to light that the published text – which is available only on the US Trade Representatives website and Read more

Special Reviews of Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam Risk to Aquatic Invertebrates

NFU submission to the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased to provide comments on the Proposed Special Review Decisions PSRD2018-01 and PSRD2018-02 regarding Risk to Aquatic Invertebrates from Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam respectively. Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam are neonicotinoid insecticides currently approved for use as seed treatment and/or foliar spray on many agricultural crops in Canada. The proposed Special Review Read more

Gerry Ritz’s record tarnishes Hall of Fame

Prime Minister Harper said he “would make Canada unrecognizable.” His Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz certainly did his part to make Canadian agriculture and food unrecognizable. Minister Ritz’s destructive record speaks for itself. Does Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair really want to damage its reputation by inducting former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (2007 - 2015), into Canada's Agriculture Hall of Fame? Read more

NFU urges Canada to support Declaration for the Rights of Peasants at United Nations

The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges Canada to vote in favour of the United Nations (UN) Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas when it goes before the 3rd Committee session of the General Assembly. Read more

As if the USMCA dairy concessions were not bad enough…

It is deeply concerning, though not surprising, that the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has at least three chapters that formally entrench corporate influence on government decision-making. Read more