CNS Canada –– Manitoba’s Port of Churchill is almost ready to start moving grain this season, as ships are expected to go out within the next 10 days, the port’s operator said. “The elevator is starting to fill up and the rail cars are lining up for delivery on time. We’ve got ships predicted to […] Read more
Ships’ sailing season starts soon at Churchill
Ex-Viterra chief to take Ontario’s Hydro One public
The chief executive who morphed Saskatchewan Wheat Pool from a debt-crushed grain handler into Viterra, then oversaw its sale to Glencore, has been tapped to take Ontario’s Crown-owned power utility public. Toronto-based Hydro One on Thursday announced Mayo Schmidt as its new president and CEO effective Sept. 3, replacing Carmine Marcello. “We believe that Mr. […] Read more
Diesel not expected to follow gasoline’s sudden jump
CNS Canada –– Despite a recent spike of up to 20 cents per litre more for gasoline in some Prairie centres, diesel isn’t expected to follow the same trajectory. “For every three cents that gasoline has gone up, diesel has gone up one,” explained Dan McTeague of GasBuddy.com in Toronto. On average, gas prices jumped […] Read more
Tumour surgery to sideline CN chief
The CEO of Canada’s biggest rail network expects to be off work until late fall for surgery and radiation treatments on a precancerous tumour. Canadian National Railway’s (CN) chief executive Claude Mongeau said Wednesday he expects to have surgery either near the end of this month or early in September, to remove a rare type […] Read more
N.S. halts local-level biomass, wind power plan
Nova Scotia is ending its feed-in tariff program that pays local-level groups to generate power from biomass, wind and other renewable sources. Energy Minister Michel Samson said Thursday a provincial review of the community feed-in tariff (COMFIT) program shows it’s “at a point where the program could begin to have a negative impact on power […] Read more
Alta. cuts ranchers’ water pump rental fees
Ranchers and farmers renting the Alberta ag ministry’s pumps and pipes to move water for livestock watering and domestic use in dry areas may now get the equipment for half the going rate. The province announced Thursday it will cut the rental fees charged under its annual Water Pumping Program, through which producers, or groups […] Read more
Calgary researchers get rooster back on feet
Technology usually used as teaching tools for veterinary students at the University of Calgary has given an injured rooster a new pair of feet. Calgary’s animal and bylaw services agency removed the rooster, now named Foghorn, from a city property earlier this year, the university said in a release. The bird was unable to walk, […] Read more
Diesel prices seen softening soon
CNS Canada — Canadian diesel prices should go down between now and the end of the summer, according to a fuel expert. Since early May, the price of diesel across the Prairies has largely been in and around the 94-98 cents per litre range. Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service reported prices on […] Read more
Reactions mixed on U.S. biofuel policy role in Canadian market
CNS Canada — The climate of the Canadian renewable fuel market could shift when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalizes its new targets, some industry professionals say. Revised biofuel targets recently proposed by the EPA would reduce standards put in place in 2007. The changes would adjust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regulations by reducing volume […] Read more
GPS firm buys sprayer boom control maker NORAC
Saskatoon tech firm NORAC Systems, best known today for its automated boom height control systems for field sprayers, is set to become part of a major U.S. GPS systems firm. California-based Topcon Positioning Group announced Wednesday it will buy NORAC for an undisclosed sum, as the latest of Topcon’s recent plays in the precision ag […] Read more