8 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | January 2025 Beyond the Barn AG REFERENCES IN MANITOBA THRONE SPEECH Manitoba’s ag sector received multiple mentions during the recent throne speech. During Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville’s remarks, she highlighted the government’s plans for Winnipeg. “Our new vision for downtown Winnipeg includes Manitoba’s agricultural sector,” she said. “The new Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) campus will bring visitors to Manitoba and Manitoba’s grains to the world at a time when we need to diversify and expand our markets.” The $102-million-dollar project will support research, development and innovation focusing on milling, food processing and end-product development. And it will serve as the headquarters for Cereals Canada. “The Gate project is driven by ambition and a vision for the Canadian cereals industry to grow and thrive in both domestic and international markets,” Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Province of Manitoba and all levels of government to bring this world-class facility to downtown Winnipeg.” Last January, Manitoba and the federal government invested $1.3 million to advance horticulture programming at Assiniboine College through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Another mention of Manitoba ag was a reminder of the government’s prior commitments. One is to open two Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation offices in 2025. Budget 2024 allocates $200,000 of funding to open these offices in rural Manitoba. The other is the provincial government’s agreement with Azure Sustainable Fuel on a $1.9 billion jet fuel production facility in Portage la Prairie. BF One industry leader is recommending government study and action as Canada’s ag sector almost found itself caught in yet another labour dispute before Christmas. Canadian National Railway reached a tentative agreement in mid-December with the union representing its mechanical workers and clerks, two weeks after workers voted to authorize a strike. More than 5,000 CN employees represented by Unifor were prepared to walk out if there was no deal by Jan. 1. This would have been the second CN work stoppage in about six months after CN locked out employees in August. That disruption only lasted hours as the federal government quickly imposed binding arbitration on CN, CPKC and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. Canadian industries – including ag – are often caught in the crosshairs in these labour disputes. In 2023, Canadian rail freight was 375.1 million tonnes, Stats Canada reported, with loadings of canola, wheat, and potash all increasing during that year. Farm leaders are continuing to stress that Canada must be seen as a reputable supplier of agricultural products. That’s why the government needs to take action again, said Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “We urge the government to recognize the transportation and handling of agricultural and perishable goods as essential services, ensuring their uninterrupted flow during labour disputes,” Currie told Better Farming in an emailed statement. The government also needs to take a step back and identify how these situations reach a strike or lockout position, said Currie. He suggested that labour negotiations involving workers at ports or railyards must be studied to find out where gaps exist. “It is crucial to address the root causes that lead to recurring disruptions,” he said. “We call on the government to work with labour and employer groups to examine and resolve the systemic issues behind the increasing regularity with which labour disputes are disrupting the flow of agricultural goods and the broader Canadian economy.” BF CURRIE CALLS FOR STRIKE SOLUTIONS Pascale Simard photo
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3