Governments Extend 2019 AgriStability Enrollment Deadline

Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Farmers form the backbone of rural communities across Canada. They are integral to expanding our middle-class and strengthening our economy. Federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) governments remain committed to growing Canada’s agricultural sector by ensuring all farmers have the tools they need to manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farms.  

 

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today announced a two-month extension to the AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2019 program year without penalty, from April 30th to July 2nd, 2019, allowing farmers more time to sign up and benefit from the program.  This exceptional step agreed to by FPT governments will enable the program to help more farmers manage the impact of current market disruptions and production challenges facing many farm operations.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.