Lac-Megantic, Quebec | Reuters –– The Canadian government did not adequately audit the railroad company at the center of the Lac-Mégantic crude tanker disaster, which last year killed 47 people, an independent federal agency said on Tuesday, as it called for tougher scrutiny of the rail industry. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which issued […] Read more
Railway audit inadequate before Lac-Megantic disaster, TSB says
Cargill takes signing grain contracts online
Farmers signing grain contracts with the Canadian arm of Cargill no longer have to face the fax. Winnipeg-based Cargill AgHorizons announced Monday it now offers farmers the option of signing contracts electronically, using e-signatures connected to their accounts through the company’s website. The company said its e-signature service allows farmers to review and sign contracts […] Read more
Omnitrax puts brakes on crude through Churchill
CNS Canada –– Omnitrax has announced it will not be shipping oil through northern Manitoba’s Port of Churchill after all. The Denver-based company, which owns the Hudson Bay port facility and rail line serving it, had expressed interest in the idea, but said Friday it had suspended plans to ship crude oil for the foreseeable […] Read more
N.B. farm-plated trucks may haul for other farmers
Farmers in New Brunswick driving farm-plated trucks will soon be able to use those vehicles to haul for farmers other than themselves. Public Safety Minister Bruce Northrup last week announced the province will tweak its Motor Vehicle Act to allow farm-plated vehicles to transport other farmers’ products. Previously, a farmer could only haul his or […] Read more
U.S. senators urge probe of report that oil companies blocked ethanol
Washington | Reuters — Two U.S. farm-state senators on Wednesday urged federal regulators to investigate allegations raised by a biofuel trade group that the oil industry uses “strong-arm tactics” to prevent widespread use of higher blends of ethanol in gasoline. A report from the Renewable Fuels Association this week said major oil companies have discouraged […] Read more
Minogue: Feed option may put carinata in Prairie rotations
Carinata is poised to become a more economical crop option for Prairie farmers now that the crop’s meal has the federal seal of approval. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently approved carinata meal as feed for Canadian beef cattle. Carinata is agronomically similar to mustard and canola — and according to Steve Fabinjanski, CEO of […] Read more
Producer car application system going online
Grain growers wanting to apply for producer cars will be able to do so online later this month. Starting Monday (July 7), farmers who administer their own producer cars, as well as producer car administrators and agents, can apply for an account in the Canadian Grain Commission’s new online producer car application system. On July […] Read more
CASL Defenses, Part 1: Spam law to affect virtually every business in Canada
New anti-spam regulations that go into effect July 1 will do more than prevent spamming within Canada by Canadian businesses. Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) is a catch-all net that covers all forms of electronic messaging, from email and newsletters to social media and software downloads. Businesses that don’t comply face fines of up to $10 […] Read more
CASL Defenses, Part 2: The ifs, ands and buts of new anti-spam legislation
It’s July 2 — the day after Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect. You’ve just started a new job. Your predecessor left behind a binder containing the business cards of clients. You start your day by sending out emails to the addresses on those cards to introduce yourself and to ask if you can […] Read more
CASL Defenses, Part 3: Anti-spam law touches off ironic flurry of email
If you are weary of receiving requests to stay on or get on mailing lists from Canadian companies, don’t worry – it should stop in a few days. In fact, it must stop by July 1, because after that, companies that send emails asking for your express consent to receive emails, newsletters and other commercial […] Read more
