Improving rail service and encouraging expansion at the Port of Prince Rupert is critical to improving Western Canada’s future prospects as a grain exporter, says AGT Foods CEO Murad Al-Katib.

Prince Rupert needs to be part of rail transport revamp

Expanding the northern B.C. port should be a key part of $10.1-billion plan to improve transportation

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Port of Prince Rupert should be a major beneficiary of Ottawa’s $10.1-billion pledge to revamp transportation routes to international markets, says one of the world’s biggest pulse exporters. “Prince Rupert is a major opportunity — when we look at Pacific gateway access, we need a balanced approach between Vancouver and the Port of Prince […] Read more

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Green jobs eligible for wage subsidy

A new Career Focus Green Jobs program is offering wage subsidies to help employers with an environmental focus hire new graduates, a federal release says. The program targets small- and medium-sized businesses to help reduce the cost barriers of hiring new graduates by subsidizing their salary by 50 per cent to a maximum of $13,500 […] Read more


Producers need to stop robbing Peter to pay Paul, says Merle Good.

Farm debt at record highs — but top lender not worried

While FCC says most farmers can handle their debt load, 
financial expert Merle Good says some are ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’

Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm debt has hit a record high, bringing back some unpleasant memories of the 1980s debt crisis. But we’re not there yet, said farm business expert Merle Good. “In 1980, we had huge inflation and huge interest rates,” said Good, a longtime tax specialist with the provincial government who now runs a private consulting business. […] Read more

 A new study says the economic impact of irrigation ripples across the province.

Study says irrigation delivers big dollars to Alberta economy

Study also finds irrigated crop and livestock production have created 
38,000 direct jobs and another 17,000 ones in food processing

Reading Time: 2 minutes Every cubic metre of water delivered for irrigation creates $3 to the province’s GDP and $2 in labour income. This is one of the key conclusions in a study funded by the Canada-Alberta Growing Forward 2 program and commissioned by the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association (AIPA). The study also shows that for every dollar of […] Read more



China has deep problems, but offers opportunity for our food sector

Straight from the hip: The Asian titan is deeply in debt and its 
economy under stress, but it needs high-quality and safe food

Reading Time: 3 minutes China has always been regarded in the West as a superpower. But despite its recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and the perceived recent growth, China is estimated to be $23.3 trillion in debt — which is up $15 trillion in the past five years. The world’s largest user of steel (46 per cent) and […] Read more