By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) The carbon tax is now a reality for all Canadians — and that means food prices will be impacted. The federal carbon pricing scheme took effect in Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba on April 1. These provinces had previously chosen not to comply with the new federal law [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) Most people expected an electoral budget, and that is exactly what Canadians got. For the agrifood sector, the budget was underwhelming at best, and provided little hope for the near future. Let’s start with supply management. It was interesting to see that the Liberals opted to do exactly what [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) and Simon Somogyi (AIMS Author) As most people know, Health Canada released a new version of Canada’s Food Guide just a few weeks ago. Advocating a diet focused more on plant-based eating and reductions in meat and dairy consumption. The new guide has gained much attention, particularly amongst the [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) Relations between China and Canada have never been more uncertain. The SNC-Lavalin Affair has exposed the Trudeau government to attacks from Chinese authorities, who claim Canada has unfairly treated Huawei’s executive Meng Wanzhou. She was arrested in Vancouver in December, at the request of the U.S. due to allegations [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) If some were still looking for signs that the powerplay between brands and consumers is shifting, they got what they were looking for last week. Kraft Heinz, the owner of major brands we all know and have been buying for years, like Oscar Mayer, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Kraft’s Mac [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) Calgary Business, 24 January 2019 Net News Ledger, 25 January 2019 Say goodbye to the four food groups; they are now gone. Almost 12 years after the launch of the previous version, the new food guide celebrates food by displaying a plate filled with greens, fruits, plant proteins and [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) Globe and Mail, 13 January 2019 It appears that the four food groups most Canadians know by heart are on their way out. Health Canada has announced it will finally release its long-awaited new Food Guide in the spring of this year. But the new guide will likely challenge [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) The Guardian, 24 December 2018 So, we finally went from a slew of alerts on romaine lettuce to a series of clear-cut recalls affecting various produce items, including romaine lettuce and cauliflower. This is the worst time of year for Canadians as our economy is more vulnerable to outbreaks [...]
BY Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) The Food Price Report 2019, recently released by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, suggests that vegetable prices will go up by as much as 6% next year. Unlike meat or fish, fewer alternatives exist when it comes to replacing vegetables. According to the report, El Nino will [...]
By Sylvain Charlebois (AIMS Senior Fellow) Calgary Business, 21 November 2018 Some Canadians detest going to the grocery store. It’s repetitive, tiring, and quite unpleasant at times, especially when the store is busy. Picking up groceries and lugging them back home is work, something most would rather avoid. On the other hand, many of us [...]