Latest news with #Charlebois
Edmonton Journal
17-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Danielle Smith says pulling Alberta out of supply management is worth considering
'I could potentially see Alberta become the quote-unquote 'sh-t disturber' that could actually get everyone, and politicians in particular, to think differently about supply management, instead of just (being) blindly supportive without knowing why,' said Charlebois. He noted that dairy farmers in Alberta benefit relatively little from the existing scheme, paying up to twice as much as farmers in Quebec and Ontario for the same share of quota. Charlebois said it was 'absolutely possible' for Alberta to leave the federal system and set up its own dairy commission. But he said that provincial administration would come with its own challenges, such as selling Alberta dairy products elsewhere in Canada. 'Would they consider other provinces to be foreign markets? It's hard to say,' said Charlebois. Charlebois added that other provinces could also object to Alberta 'dumping' less expensive, non-supply-managed products across provincial lines. Alberta's milk marketing board couldn't be reached for comment. Lawrence Herman, a lawyer and international trade expert based in Toronto, says that just because Alberta can unilaterally exit supply management doesn't mean it should. 'There isn't anything that legally requires a province to participate,' said Herman. 'However, the province couldn't change the import limits and (tariff-rate quota) system, so it's difficult to see how it would work.' 'The better option is for the feds and the provinces to work together in phasing out the entire national (supply management) system,' he added. Supply management in Alberta sparked a minor controversy in April, when an egg farmer in the province was jailed in a quota dispute with the egg marketing board. Smith said in February that she'd asked her agricultural minister to 'start (a) conversation' about potential Canada-U.S. trade concessions relating to supply management. The Red Deer town hall was the first of ten scheduled in-person events hosted by the Smith-chaired Alberta Next panel. Supply management is not one of the six formal topics put up for discussion by the panel. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
08-07-2025
- Health
How Canada could boost disease surveillance to make up for U.S. health cuts
Canada should do more to strengthen its health surveillance systems as cuts to U.S. health institutions threaten access to crucial monitoring data, experts say in an editorial (new window) published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) this week. The editorial says cuts within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes of Health and the federal Department of Health and Human Services could strip Canada and other countries of valuable health data. We've had a decades-long relationship with the Centers for Disease Control and other organizations in the States, said co-author Dr. Shannon Charlebois, a family physician and CMAJ's medical editor. As those are dismantled, we're not going to have our early warning systems. For example, when the mpox virus broke out in the U.S., Charlebois said the CDC formally notified the Public Health Agency of Canada. This comes, the authors say, as a crisis of communicable diseases is unfolding in North America, pointing to increasing rates of syphilis and HIV in Canada, along with measles outbreaks and livestock culls due to avian influenza. We can't obviously control everything that happens in the U.S., but we can improve our own systems, said co-author Dr. Jasmine Pawa, public health and preventive medicine physician at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. U.S. cuts should 'light a fire' to act on surveillance There have long been calls for Canada to improve surveillance of infectious diseases. This should really light a fire under policymakers to take very seriously this question of public health surveillance, said Dr. Lorian Hardcastle, associate professor in the Faculty of Law and Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary who specialises in health law and policy. What the U.S. does in public health has a ripple effect, she said. When you have this major world player pull back out of public health surveillance and is no longer resourcing public health in the manner that they've historically done, then there's a call to others to step up their game. Beyond formal warnings, Charlebois said there are also informal links between the two countries that can help in planning. But with layoffs and budget cuts, now we don't know who to call to get that informal information, she in an interview with CBC Radio's All in a Day. WATCH | Yukon doctors say territory is vulnerable after U.S. health cuts: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Yukon doctors say U.S. CDC and FDA cuts leave territory vulnerable Earlier this month, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced thousands of job cuts at the CDC, FDA and National Institutes of Health. Yukon doctors are now saying these cuts leave the territory vulnerable. What can be done here In Canada, one of the major hurdles to increasing surveillance is getting provinces and territories to collaborate and share data in a timely, uniform way, said Hardcastle. A lot of it is just needing the political will to make it happen, which is a huge challenge, she said. But she said there are also tools Canada could implement, including electronic medical records, and better waste water surveillance for antimicrobial resistance. Hardcastle said that kind of surveillance was done during the COVID-19 pandemic and stepping it up could be beneficial not only for infectious disease monitoring, but for public health in general. That would give policymakers an early alert of problems, she said, rather than waiting for things to really snowball. Others, like Charlebois, are calling for a national vaccine registry, so patients and medical professionals can keep track of immunizations and pinpoint who is protected and who is at risk. We don't have a national vaccine registry and we are not meeting our obligation to the World Health Organization on that, said Charlebois. Misinformation crosses borders too The CMAJ editorial said all of this is compounded by another concern: misinformation. People living in Canada are vulnerable to a cross-border bleed of not only microorganisms, but also of attitudes, health misinformation and exposure to biased U.S. media, the authors wrote. Misinformation can further challenge the health system, said infectious disease physician Dr. Michael Gardam, who has watched as the issue has undermined efforts to control the spread of illnesses, like measles. Measles-infected baby dies in southwestern Ontario (new window) People have stopped following what were highly effective control measures. Why have they stopped? Because people are telling them through social media not to follow them anymore, said Gardam. With the changes to health institutions in the U.S., Gardam said Canada and other countries will have a void to fill, but it will take time and effort. We didn't build up our surveillance because the U.S. had our back, he said. If they don't have your back anymore, you have to create it yourself or you have to create new partnerships with other countries to do it. Alison Northcott (new window) · CBC News
Hamilton Spectator
29-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Cracking the case of the global black pepper shortage — should you stock up on the spice?
Whether you're marinating meat, making a homemade alfredo sauce or adding a kick to your salad, you likely reach for black pepper in your spice cabinet — but there are concerns that this universally-loved household spice might soon become harder to come by. South of the border, prices for black pepper jumped by six per cent in late November due to a global shortage of black peppercorn, according to a report from U.S. spice manufacturer and importer Majestic Spice. Seven months later, supplies remain short across the world and costs have remained steep. With black pepper production down, will Canadians have to say goodbye to flavourful recipes benefitting from the bold, earthy spice? Here's what you need to know. There have been issues with crop yields in countries where black pepper is produced including Vietnam, India and Brazil, some of which are the top providers of the spice to Canada and for most of the world, said Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, who specializes in food distribution and policy. 'Pepper is not always easy to grow when you don't have the proper climate,' Charlebois said, adding that another challenge causing the shortage is that many farmers have 'pivoted' and opted to grow other crops that are more profitable, such as coffee and cocoa. Black pepper production in India dropped by 16 per cent year over year, Majestic Spice reported in May, noting production was down seven per cent in Vietnam. According to research, climate change and unpredictable weather in peppercorn-producing countries affects the quality and taste of black pepper, making the crops less profitable for farmers. There have also been supply chain issues since the COVID-19 pandemic and the market has yet to recover, Charlebois said, adding to the increase in costs. The black pepper shortage and rising prices in Canada started about a year ago but most people haven't noticed, according to Charlebois. This is due to people purchasing black pepper once every two to three years, he said, and less frequently than other food items. According to Statistics Canada consumer price data , Canadians saw a 2.5 per cent increase in the cost of 'condiments, spices and vinegars index' in May compared to the same period last year. This index includes black pepper and other items such as pickled olives, pickles, tomato ketchup, plain spaghetti sauce, BBQ sauce, salsa, hot sauce, mustard, hummus, salad dressings, mayonnaise, dried herbs, beef or chicken concentrate and table salt. Free on Board costs — which include transportation, loading, and related costs — of pepper in Vietnam have jumped from $4.30/kg in early 2023 to $6.10 to $6.20/kg in recent months— an approximate increase of 43 per cent in just under two years , according to Majestic Spice. But Charlebois said black pepper buyers who purchase once every few years may not notice a higher price than the previous one. 'People tend to actually look at prices much more carefully when they do buy products at a high frequency. Pepper — that's not the case. That's why demand elasticity is quite high,' he said. He expects prices to drop eventually as 'demand will move away for a while' and climate-related issues that affect production supply, tend to be temporary. 'Olive oil is a good example of that. Last couple of years, olive production in Spain, Greece and Portugal was anemic and olive oil prices skyrocketed. But harvest in 2024 was incredibly strong and prices dropped dramatically. That's my expectation for black pepper as well,' Charlebois said. Canadian companies are keeping an eye on the pepper shortage, Charlebois said, but since huge quantities of black pepper aren't required to make most products, manufacturers aren't yet worried as some do keep supplies in stock as well. Cooks and food manufacturers don't have to panic if they're short on black pepper, he added, as recipes for meals and food products can be reformulated using other, less costly ingredients to make up for the missing pepper. 'We've been seeing this with cocoa for a while and we saw that with vanilla for many years— when a spice becomes more expensive or an ingredient becomes more expensive, typically the supply chain adjusts by using less of it or they replace it with something else. And typically consumers don't even notice the difference,' he said. A black pepper shortage may affect the taste of some foods if it's missing from the recipe, since there is no substitute for the spice. However, there are some alternatives that could give dishes a similar heat. Shayma Saadat , a Toronto-based food writer and content creator, makes many trips to the grocery store to stock up on ingredients and although she's heard about the black pepper shortage, she hasn't seen people hoarding the spice. Saadat says a black pepper shortage 'opens up a window' for consumers to expand their pantry and to experiment with other spices in their food, but to not think of these new spices as replacements for black pepper. 'Black pepper is not like salt. We can't eat food without salt, but we can definitely eat food without black pepper,' Saadat said, adding that she hopes cooks can think of other spices as 'new ways of enhancing your food.' While there are several types of pepper spices, each one has a unique taste. White peppercorn is derived from the same plant as black peppercorn but its appearance and taste differs. Saadat enjoys using white pepper in her cuisine , saying the spice has an aromatic, musky scent, but is also milder than black pepper. She also recommends using pink peppercorn, which is not botanically related to black pepper, but has a soft heat and 'floral, perfumed sweetness.' 'Black pepper has a bit of a peppery tingle, so it's the same thing with these,' Saadat said, adding that pink peppercorn is a bit more subtle in heat than black peppercorn. Pink peppercorn can be used to flavour and give a visual appeal to pink salmon, in vinaigrettes and in drinks like cocktails, Saadat said. Consumers can also try to include aleppo pepper in their recipes, which Saadat describes as having a 'slow building heat' with a fruity dimension, perfect for flavouring scrambled eggs in the morning. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
28-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario BBQ price sticker shock — why meat is so expensive in Canada this summer
If you've bought meat recently at a grocery store or butcher shop in Ontario, you've likely experienced sticker shock. Beef in particular has shot up in price. This means barbecue favourites such as hamburgers, steak and beef hot dogs will be more expensive this summer. Sylvain Charlebois, senior director for the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, said beef prices have risen significantly. The Canadian T-Bone steak (Right) more expensive — about 60% more per kg than U.S. one (Left). In Canada, steaks travel further, get taxed harder, and Canada is not flooded with cheap imports, unlike the U.S., which imports beef from countries like Australia, Mexico, and Brazil. Drought and farmers selling off and cashing out of the business have contributed to the price increases. Farmers aren't coming back, and others aren't reinvesting in their herds. 'That's certainly something that has a lot of people by surprise,' he said. 'Typically when prices go up, farmers are incentivized to reinvest to actually grow more — but we're not seeing it right now.' Last year, Canada's cattle herd was the smallest since 1987, when the country had 15 million fewer people. Other factors broadly at play in beef price increases include Canada's vast geography, higher labour and transportation costs, carbon pricing and, as well, a limited number of federally licensed beef processors. High interest rates are also thought to be impacting typically risk-averse cattle farmers, Charlebois said. Since January, according to Statistics Canada, beef prices have surged at an alarming pace. Striploin is up 34.2 per cent, top sirloin 33.7 per cent and rib cuts nearly 12 per cent, according to Sylvain Charlebois. In Canada, the price per kilograms for striploin cuts and sirloin cuts has gone up 30 to 35 per cent since December, Charlebois says. 'It's making bison look like a bargain,' he said. Charlebois said on average, beef prices are about $20 to $25 per kilogram — and some cuts are over $100. The significant increase in the cost of beef has also contributed to the rise in food inflation and why many might be looking to swap their steak for sausage or chicken. Charlebois said chicken and pork prices haven't increased in the same way as beef. 'Everything has gone up at the meat counter — but increases impacting poultry and pork have been more reasonable,' he said. Statistics Canada data shows a modest increase in price for some chicken products, such as whole chicken and chicken thighs, in between January and April 2025. The price of a whole chicken rose 7.7 per cent from January to April — jumping from $5.73 to $6.17 per kilogram. Chicken thighs increased by slightly less — 7.3 per cent — increasing from $11.34 to $12.17 in the same period, while chicken breasts saw a slight reduction in price in the same period. Chicken quarters and burgers being grilled. Pork loin cuts, rib cuts and shoulder cuts have all seen their prices increase in the first four months of 2025. Pork rib cuts have increased by 15 per cent — from $7.94 per kilogram to $9.17 per kilogram from January to April, according to StatCan data. Pork shoulder cuts rose by 58.9 per cent in the same period — increasing from $6.18 per kilogram in January to $9.82 per kilogram in April. Pork loin cuts saw a more modest 10 per cent increase from $8.77 to $9.66 per kilogram from January to April. Pork products — including ribs — have increased in price this year. With the price of many meats on the rise, tofu and other meat alternatives are starting to look more attractive. The price of tofu was $2.73 per 300 grams in April — rising only slightly from $2.56 in January. Grill-able halloumi cheese can also be an alternative — coming in at around $4 to $10 per 250 grams, depending on the store and brand. Grilling marinated tofu or halloumi on a skewer with in-season vegetables or vegetables from your garden can be a good way to save money while grilling. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beef prices surge as barbecue season approaches
Canadians looking to grill some burgers and steaks as the summer barbecue season heats up may find themselves paying much more for beef, prompting one food expert to call for an investigation. Prices for striploin steak are 34.2 per cent higher since January, while top sirloin is up 33.7 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. Pork ribs and chicken breasts are each up 5.9 per cent during the same period. 'For many Canadian families, a summer steak on the grill is starting to feel more like a splurge than a staple,' Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, said in a recent report. 'Consumers will continue to enjoy beef, but with moderation and on occasions that justify the cost.' He pointed to several factors behind the jump in beef prices, including transportation costs, the carbon tax, the number of licensed beef processors and labour costs. Canadian inventory is also an issue since it has fallen to 3.38 million head, the lowest level since 1989. 'Many cattle producers are exiting the industry while prices are favourable, opting to reinvest in less volatile sectors or shift entirely to crop production,' Charlebois said. 'In short, the Canadian beef industry is retreating and becoming increasingly risk-averse.' Canadians are already taking notice of the price hikes in the past few years. Per capita beef consumption fell 7.1 per cent in 2023 and another 2.1 per cent in 2024, according to IBISWorld data. 'This is no longer just a matter of shifting dietary preferences; it's a structural shift in consumer behaviour,' Charlebois said. 'Beef is increasingly seen as a luxury item, with ground beef becoming the primary choice for budget-conscious households still committed to red meat.' He also wonders if producers in Canada are taking advantage of the situation. In the United States, former president Joe Biden tried to crack down on anticompetitive practices in the food industry, specifically price fixing in the meat sector. In February, Brazilian meatpacking company JBS SA agreed to pay US$83.5 to settle claims that it worked with other companies to artificially inflate prices. Under the settlement, JBS must also work with U.S. investigators looking into similar claims at Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Inc. and National Beef Packing Co. LLC. JBS has called the claims against it 'frivolous and without merit,' but is settling because it is in the company's best interest. 'The Canadian Competition Bureau, by contrast, has remained largely silent on similar concerns,' Charlebois said. 'Perhaps it's time for that to change.' Prices on thousands of grocery items to rise despite tariff break, says Loblaw Canada has lost its global agricultural trading edge, RBC report says The Competition Bureau said investigations are confidential, so it can not reveal information on current investigations. 'The bureau must conduct a thorough and complete examination of the facts regarding any issue before reaching any conclusion as to whether the Competition Act has been contravened,' a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement. 'If we find evidence of activities that could raise concerns under the law, we will take action.' • Email: bcousins@ Sign in to access your portfolio
