CFIB calls on Canada to keep fertilizer emissions goal voluntary

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses, has called on the federal government to ensure that the drive to cut nitrogen fertilizer emissions by 30 per cent remains voluntary for Canadian agri-businesses. The government is currently conducting consultations on its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from […]

Canada’s single-use plastics ban “singles out” foodservice

Canada’s single-use plastics ban, which has been on the cards for years and slowly but surely gathering momentum, is set to take final effect before the end of the year. On June 20, the government of Canada published final regulations to prohibit “harmful” single-use plastics, with a ban on manufacturing and importing most of these […]

Quebec restaurants want looser foreign worker rules to ease labour shortage

Quebec’s restaurant and hospitality industry is asking the federal government for help in easing its labour shortage, calling for the loosening of foreign worker rules in time for the summer season. This summer, with open restaurants and COVID-19-related restrictions at their lightest since the pandemic began, is expected to be the busiest season for foodservice […]

Canada & Ontario invest $900K to improve meat processing

The federal government and the government of Ontario are together investing $900,000 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to launch an innovative tool to connect meat and poultry farmers with abattoirs that have available meat processing capacity and to support recruitment, retention and training initiatives in the industry. The new Farmer-Processor Connections Initiative, led by Meat and […]

Two new grants available to Canadian restaurants

Eligible Canadian restaurants now have two further grants potentially available to help cope with the impacts of COVID-19. On March 4, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. The program aims to assist these businesses, including restaurants, in growing their online […]

Canada supporting expanded organic food opportunities

The government of Canada has announced funding of up to $770,000 for the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) to support market development for organic food products.   Noting that the agriculture and agri-food sector is a key driver of Canada’s economy and the organic food industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Canada, a […]

Canada investing in agri-food careers in wake of labour crunch

Amid the labour shortage that has plagued food production and processing, the governments of Canada and Ontario have announced they are investing up to $4 million to promote agri-food careers. A release says the investment will “help build a strong and competitive agri-food workforce that will ensure people can continue to access the safe and […]

Government introduces new pandemic aid, extends sick leave

The Canadian government introduced a new pandemic aid bill on November 24 that would maintain some financial supports for businesses and workers until at least the spring of 2022. Bill C-2, if passed, would include providing wage and rent subsidies through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program. The Tourism and Hospitality […]

Canada introducing new hospitality and restaurant subsidies

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on October 21 that the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) will expire on October 23, and will be replaced the next day by targeted benefits including restaurant subsidies and programs to help individuals whose work is impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit will provide […]

Governments investing $3M to protect Ontario pork sector

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing nearly $3 million in three new initiatives as part of a coordinated effort to enhance biosecurity and support the Ontario pork sector and its African swine fever (ASF) prevention and emergency preparedness efforts. With the foodservice supply chain already stretched thin, there are concerns that African swine […]