The Lead
The Globe and Mail is reporting that Canada may be willing to grant more dairy access to American producers during the fifth round of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but will stand firm against U.S. protectionist demands, according to Canadian sources. Ottawa, sources said, will remain at the table, noting Canadian officials thinks they can build negotiating momentum by reaching agreements that would slash red tape at the border and allow for international e-commerce.
As Macleans writes, an American walkout is still very much a possibility. “No one should be surprised if Trump declares in a 5 a.m. tweet that he’s pulling the U.S. out of NAFTA — and nothing about what comes next is straightforward,” Aaron Hutchins writes. Meanwhile, Reuters has the latest on how the Canadian dollar is faring ahead of the talks.
Around Town
Parliament is off this week for their November break.
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAualy continues his two-week trade mission in China. International Trade Minister Francois Philippe Champagne, Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains continue their trade visit to India.
In Canada
The Western Producer says the alleged shooting death of a grizzly bear in Northern Alberta, where it reportedly was preying on cattle, has reignited a longstanding debate over how far ranchers can go to protect their livestock.
New research out of the University of Saskatchewan has found that canola seed coated with the neonicotinoid imadacloprid can be toxic to songbirds. As The Western Producer reports, the scientist said birds dosed with the pesticide have lower fat stores and body mass and were unable to orient themselves properly. The Western Producer has that story too.
An Alberta farm family is angry after they discovered nearly 100 dead Canada geese dumped on their farm. As CBC News reports, the birds likely were hunted elsewhere. Enforcement officials say under Alberta law it is illegal to abandon the edible flesh of game species.
In Manitoba, an investigation is underway after 7,500 pigs – mostly piglets – were killed in a deadly barn fire near Steinbach, Man. There were no human injuries. Damage estimates are underway.
In case you missed it: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released its annual Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and AgriFood System Friday during peak TPP madness. The report says the Canadian agriculture industry contributed $119 billion to this country’s GDP last year. That’s equivalent to 6.7 per cent of total GDP. CNS Canada has the details.
Internationally
MPs in the United Kingdom are warning the country risks massive lines and trucks full of rotting food at the country’s ports if Westminster fails to update its customs system ahead of the pending Brexit.
The Kicker
Only in the Maritimes: A Halifax webcam company has launched a 24-hour ‘Donair Cam’ streaming from the King of Donair restaurant so that Haligonians and others can watch a succulent spit of donair meat spin wherever they are.