E-Newsletter dsfsfa An update from MBP March 19, 2021
mbbeef.ca
Survey Open To Manitobans on Next Steps of Gradual Reopening of Services and Activities (March 18, 2021 Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government is seeking feedback from Manitobans on plans to move to the ‘restricted’ (orange) level on the Pandemic Response System and continue to restore safely services and activities while balancing the needs of the health-care system, Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced. “I want to commend Manitobans for their willingness and their diligence in following the public health orders in place to protect our most vulnerable and ensure our health-care system is there for all Manitobans when they need it, now and well after this pandemic,” said Pallister. “Thanks to Manitobans’ efforts we are once again in a position to consider loosening additional restrictions as we learn to live this virus. As a government, we are focused on creating an environment for a sustained reopening of our economy so businesses can safely reopen and stay open.” The province has launched a survey on https://EngageMB.ca and invites Manitobans to share feedback on their priorities for potential easing of the current level ‘red’ or ‘critical’ COVID-19 restrictions. The survey asks questions about Manitobans’ perspectives on the risk of the virus and their comfort levels with different activities. In addition, people will be asked their thoughts on the timing, such as if changes should happen sooner, or wait until after the Easter and Passover holidays. Possible changes include increasing outside gathering limits, expanding capacity at retail stores and religious services, expanding indoor restaurant dining criteria to include a household and their designated visitors, allowing organized team games at indoor sporting facilities, and removing the requirement that youth must wear a mask while taking part in indoor sporting activities, such as hockey or soccer. In addition, other changes include enabling indoor theatres, indoor concert halls, casino and gaming centres to open at limited capacity levels and removing the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days for interprovincial/domestic travellers who travel for business reasons and do not have symptoms. For more details on each option and to provide feedback, visit https://engagemb.ca/restartmb-pandemic-response-system. continued on page 4
For reliable information and resources please visit: For the latest Manitoba industry news visit our new website: https://mbbeef.ca/our-news/covid/
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association is collaborating with industry stakeholders and the Government of Canada to ensure both stable beef production and trade during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.cattle.ca/ccaresources/covid-19/
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Survey Open To Manitobans on Next Steps of Gradual Reopening of Services and Activities Roussin noted hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions have trended in the right direction, and government continues to ramp up its vaccine efforts to immunize more vulnerable Manitobans, as vaccines become available from the federal government. “While we expect to see cases increase as we continue to reopen the economy, we have to accept that COVID-19 is here to stay for many years. This means we all need to learn to live with this virus and find ways to assess our risk without having to implement long-term lockdowns,” said Roussin. “That is why it is crucial Manitobans continue to follow the fundamentals and to avoid the activities that are known to cause the greatest risk – crowded places, closed spaces and close-contact settings – to ensure the health-care system doesn’t get overwhelmed and Manitobans can access the care they need, whether for COVID-19 or other medical needs.” However, Roussin also noted that public health officials are not considering changes to indoor or outdoor gathering sizes at personal residences at this time, noting that close, prolonged contact has a higher risk of transmitting the virus.
“I know that Easter and Passover are coming up soon, and that people will want to gather with their loved ones,” said Roussin. “But we all saw what happened after Thanksgiving last fall – case numbers rose dramatically and we ended up in lockdown for Christmas. We don’t want to see a repeat of that happening again, just before summer.” This survey builds on prior steps taken to connect directly with Manitobans throughout the pandemic on public health orders, pandemic planning and more. Since April 2020, nearly 500,000 participants have engaged with the Manitoba government on COVID-19 issues through telephone town halls, online surveys, public opinion research and other engagement opportunities on EngageMB. For more information on Manitoba’s current pandemic response, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID-19. Backgrounder Background Information
for additional updates on the vaccine roll-out please see page 6
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments and Eligibility Criteria If you are eligible to be immunized, you can now book your vaccine appointment online for any of our supersites, quickly and conveniently. (Province of Manitoba News Information) Vaccine
appointments are currently available at all five supersites in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk, Thompson and Morden. Some appointments also remain available at pop-up sites that are taking place this month in locations across the province. Eligible people can book an appointment at a supersite online at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine or protectmb.ca with an email address and health card number. Eligible individuals can also call (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MANVACC) to book an appointment at a supersite or pop-up clinic. The AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccine is now available through some medical clinics and pharmacies. For more information about this vaccine, including eligibility criteria and how to access it if you are eligible, visit www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibilitycriteria.html. Background re: Booking Your COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Online
To book, you'll need to create an account with your email address and health card number. You can link more than one person to the same account, so that you can book for family members and loved ones as they become eligible. Please note that only first-dose appointments should be booked at this time. Book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment online Once you have booked an appointment, don’t forget to print and complete your consent form. If you don't have an email address, the call centre continues to be available at 1-844-6268222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) to book appointments at supersites and pop-up clinics. Daily hours of operation are from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Only individuals who are eligible can call or book an appointment online for immunization. You will be screened to ensure you meet current eligibility.
Statement CCA Steadfast in Call for Time Sensitive Changes to Business Risk Management Program March 17, 2021 Calgary, AB – The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and our provincial members echo Minister Bibeau and Special Representative Carr’s call for prompt movement on improving Canada’s AgriStability program. Changes to AgriStability, in line with CCA’s recommendations, were brought forward at the Agriculture Ministers’ Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting on November 27, 2020 by Minister Bibeau, however have yet to be responded to by her provincial counterparts. The proposal tabled by Minister Bibeau included the removal of the reference margin limit and an increase to the compensation rate from 70 per cent to 80 per cent. The Minister also mentioned that she is prepared to consider other program enhancements with her provincial and territorial counterparts. CCA has continued to advocate on the breadth of recommendations we have put forward including the trigger and removal of the caps on payments. “We need to have tools that help us better manage the risks of weather, trade and production. The proposed program enhancements will do that and better position the beef industry to contribute to Canada’s economic recovery,” said Bob Lowe, CCA President. “We’re pleased to see the potential of an FPT soon and call on all Governments to move swiftly, especially given the April 30 enrollment deadline,” continued Lowe. We appreciate all the FPT Ministers’ efforts to strategically address agriculture risk management programs to ensure appropriate programs are in place to build a strong Canadian agriculture sector today and into the future. For further information, contact: Tammy Melesko Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 403-451-0931 | meleskot@cattle.ca
Statement by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau and the Honourable Jim Carr on Proposed Improvements to AgriStability (March 17, 2021 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ministerial Statement) “It has been just over 110
days since we made the offer to the provinces to improve AgriStability. We are asking for a clear indication from the three Prairie provinces whether they will sign on or not. We would like to know: have you taken the proposal to your Premiers and to your cabinets? Are they supportive of these changes? On November 27, 2020, the federal government proposed to eliminate the reference margin limit, which serves only to reduce a farmer’s payout, and boost the compensation rate to 80%. This could lead to an increased payout from AgriStability of 50%, or $170 million nationally, into the pockets of farmers who need it the most. To give an illustrative example provided by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, these changes could mean the difference between a 2,000 acre grain farmer who would have received almost $4,000 instead receiving almost $75,000. This is something we know farmers across the country have been asking for. We are still awaiting a clear response from all three Prairie provinces to build a strong consensus to enact the proposed changes.
At the request of Prairie Ministers, we will convene a further federal-provincial-territorial meeting. To ensure this is a productive meeting and that we can provide much-needed results for farmers, we would prefer to convene only when ministers have a decision in hand. We have had many discussions – Canadian farmers want us to act. The deadline to enroll in AgriStability this coming year is April 30, 2021. We need to implement these changes in advance of that deadline in order to encourage more farmers to sign up, and increase farmer participation in the program. They are absolutely needed for the short term. Discussions have started in regard to the next five-year agricultural policy framework, which begins in 2023. Through the consultation process, we will look at longer-term changes. However, consultations on longer-term fixes to the business risk management suite of programs should not come at the expense of the short-term fixes to AgriStability that farmers are asking for today.” - The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and The Honourable Jim Carr, Special Representative for the Prairies
Statement Agricultural Climate Solutions program holds promise as a useful mechanism to further beef sustainability initiatives March 18, 2021 Calgary, AB - Today the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced $185 million for the Agricultural Climate Solutions program which includes the Living Laboratories initiative. This program is intended to assist the Government of Canada in achieving its greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets. Canada’s beef industry is well positioned to be a partner in reaching environmental outcomes. It is anticipated that funding will bring together a broad set of participants including producers, not-for-profit organizations, scientists and sectoral stakeholders to support practices that are ready for immediate application. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) welcomes the funding announcement and its potential to foster collaborative solutions and technology transfer which will be required to achieve the federal government’s climate goals. CCA has long been a champion of sustainability initiatives and believes the Living Labs model is well aligned with the 2030 Beef Strategy Goals, particularly those related to carbon sequestration, reducing primary production greenhouse gas emission intensity by 33 per cent and conserving native grasslands habitat. “Canada’s beef industry is a world leader in environmental performance,” said Bob Lowe, CCA President. “We welcome opportunities to work with the Government of Canada through programs such as the Living Labs initiative to achieve our common environmental outcomes. Canada’s farmers and ranchers are part of the solution.” The 2030 Beef Strategy Goals are a suite of 10-year goals developed by Canada’s national beef organizations. These ambitious but realistic objectives demonstrate the Canadian beef industry’s clear and positive commitment to continual improvement. “We look forward to building additional partnerships to support the beef industry’s continual progress in achieving environmental sustainability goals,” said Matt Bowman, Beef Cattle Research Council Chair and a producer from Thornloe, Ontario. “This program provides an opportunity to further advance scientific knowledge and enhance technology transfer initiatives needed to achieve environmental goals while simultaneously supporting the profitability and vitality of the Canadian beef industry.” More information on the 2030 Beef Strategy Goals can be found at beefstrategy.com. For further information, contact: Tammy Melesko Communications Manager Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (403) 451-0931 | meleskot@cattle.ca
The CCA is the national voice for Canada’s beef cattle industry representing 60,000 beef farms and feedlots. Visit www.cattle.ca
Accelerating the Adoption of Climate-Smart Best Practices in Agriculture The program will proceed in two phases. The first phase, which will launch April 1st, aims to support the development of proposals focused on regional collaboration hubs, also known as “Living Labs”, by offering grants of up to $100,000.
(March 18, 2021 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada News Release) Farmers are on the front lines of
worsening climate impacts, and face increasing risk of wildfires and extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts. The best way to build climate resiliency across Canadian agriculture’s diversity of realities and landscapes is by developing and deploying solutions that are tailored for each region, led by farmers and farm groups themselves. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of $185 million over the next 10 years for the new Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) program. The ACS program aims to establish a strong, Canada-wide network of regional collaborations led by farmers and including scientists and other sectoral stakeholders. Together, they will develop and share management practices that best store carbon and mitigate climate change. This work will also help protect biodiversity, improve water and soil quality, and strengthen farmers’ bottom lines. To be eligible for the ACS program, applicants must form a large network of partnerships within a province, including with agricultural non-profits, Indigenous organizations and environmental groups.
The aim is for every province in Canada to have at least one collaboration hub. Each hub will centre on farms, where farmers and researchers can codevelop best practices, including cover crops, intercropping, conversion of marginal land to permanent cover, shelterbelts, nutrient management, and inclusion of pulses in rotations. Applicants will need to demonstrate their ability to engage with researchers and develop plans for knowledge transfer and adoption among their peers. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will host regional information sessions over the coming weeks. The program’s second phase will open as early as Fall 2021. At this stage, applicant groups can submit their applications for funding support of up to $10 million per project. The ACS program is one of many important new initiatives being undertaken to promote environmental sustainability and resiliency in the agriculture sector, and is part of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Quotes “Our government is working in partnership with farmers to develop and deploy the best practices that will fight climate change, protect our lands and waters, and deliver important economic benefits to farmers. With significant regional collaborations from coast-to-coast, Agricultural Climate Solutions puts farmers at the helm of steering Canadian agriculture towards a climate resilient future for the generations to come.” - The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food continued on next page
Accelerating the Adoption of Climate-Smart Best Practices in Agriculture “Canadian farmers are constantly innovating to make their practices more sustainable. That’s why the Government of Canada is pleased to be working with farmers across the country to continue that work by identifying and implementing on farm management practices that engage the power of nature-based solutions to cut carbon pollution and support biodiversity. Through programs like the one announced today, which complements the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, we will create a stronger future – one that achieves Canadians’ environmental goals and economic hopes.” - The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Quick facts • The Agricultural Climate Solutions is based on an expanded model of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s “Living Labs” networks, already underway in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The Living Labs model has been endorsed by the G20 as a model of innovation and collaborative research. •
Eligible recipients within a collaboration may include not-for-profit organizations, such as producer organizations, and Indigenous groups.
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The Government of Canada is investing more than $4 billion over the next 10 years (2021-2031) to establish a Natural Climate Solutions Fund and supporting activities to build a more resilient economy and a healthier, greener future with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Natural Resources of Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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ACS is part of Canada’s $350-million investment over 10 years to help Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector meet our emission targets and capture new opportunities in the green economy. o $185 million for ACS (today’s announcement) o $165.7 million increase in the Agricultural Clean Technology Program that supports research, development and adoption of clean technologies
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The ACS program complements Environment and Climate Change Canada’s ten year $631 million Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund which will support projects to restore, enhance and conserve wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and forests to store and capture carbon and enable reporting. These ecosystems are also critically important habitat for Canada’s wildlife including migratory birds and species at risk.
Related products • Natural Climate Solutions Fund • Natural Resources Canada Growing Canada’s Forests program • Environment and Climate Change Canada funding programs • Living Laboratories Initiative Associated links • Backgrounder: Agricultural Climate Solutions
Federal Government Announces Comprehensive Plan to Better Protect Foreign Workers in Order to Secure Canada’s Food Supply Chain (March 16, 2021 Employment and Social Development Canada News Release) Throughout
the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada acted to protect Canadians and workers. Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) have played an important role in ensuring our food security for decades, and especially during this pandemic. Their continued safety and timely entry into Canada is essential to our economy, and they deserve to be safe. Over the last few weeks, the government has worked to develop a tailored solution to accommodate the anticipated volume of TFWs arriving this spring. Part of this solution included a deferral for certain TFWs – including workers in agriculture, agri-food, and fish and seafood sectors – from the requirement to stay in a Government Authorized Accommodation (GAA) upon arrival. The government will be moving forward with a two-pronged approach to quarantine requirements for TFWs after March 21, 2021, based on their final destination. Asymptomatic TFWs will be able to travel directly to their place of quarantine after getting a COVID-19 test at the airport provided they travel by private transportation and are accompanied only by others who travelled with them to Canada. TFWs who will need to travel by public means to a secondary location upon arrival in Canada will be required to stay in a GAA and await the results of their COVID-19 test. Provided TFWs have a suitable quarantine plan and safe transportation arranged to their place of quarantine, the government intends to ensure employers and TFWs will not assume
incremental costs associated with the three-day quarantine requirement at the point of entry. Workers will also be provided with supports on arrival and during their hotel stay. The Government of Canada is continuing to explore how best to support TFWs and employers to ensure that TFWs can arrive and remain in Canada safely for the duration of their work. The government recognizes the importance of the timely arrival of workers for sectors like agriculture, agri-food, and fish and seafood processing. That is why we are putting these measures in place to ensure businesses can hire the workers they need while keeping these workers – and all Canadians – safe. In support of this new approach, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced enhanced actions to better protect TFWs and support employers. The Government of Canada is: •
Working with provinces to ensure employers are well prepared to safely welcome and quarantine workers – including through safe travel arrangements to their place of quarantine, and with suitable isolation options for positive/symptomatic workers throughout the season;
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Increasing and strengthening inspections of employers in agriculture, to ensure they are meeting their quarantine obligations and TFW Program requirements related to working conditions and wages, and continued on next page
Federal Government Announces Comprehensive Plan to Better Protect Foreign Workers in Order to Secure Canada’s Food Supply Chain providing more education for employers on their obligations; •
Funding migrant worker organizations to provide direct assistance to workers affected by COVID-19 for the 2021 season, as well as working with these organizations to assist workers during the arrival process and throughout the season;
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Improving the TFW tip line, with the addition of live agents able to offer services in multiple languages, who can help workers better communicate situations of mistreatment or abuse, and providing additional education for workers on their rights;
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Improving coordination with provincial and territorial partners through a new central point of contact to ensure responsible authorities are able to respond quickly to emerging issues, including outbreaks.
In addition to this announcement, the Government of Canada recently launched a pilot project to conduct more in-depth inspections of employers at higher risk of committing Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud, and will assess compliance results over the coming months. Finally, in October 2020, consultations were launched with PTs, as well as employers, workers and foreign partner countries on a proposal for mandatory requirements for employer-provided accommodations with a view to improving the living conditions for workers while they are in Canada. Input received through this consultation is currently being reviewed, and will inform the Government’s actions in the coming months, including continued collaboration with PTs and program partners in advancing this important work.
Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Mentorship Program The countdown is on for young people looking to take advantage of mentorship and career building opportunities in the Canadian beef industry through the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program! Applications for the CYL Program are open until Wednesday, March 31 at 11:59 pm MT at www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com. The CYL Program is open to young people ages 18-35 across Canada involved in all areas of the supply chain that contribute to the success of the beef industry. Through the CYL Program, 16 participants are selected annually to be paired with a hand-picked industry leader to help advance their careers in the beef industry and are awarded a $2,000 budget to put towards learning opportunities of their choice. In addition, participants are offered numerous skill-building training and networking opportunities catered uniquely to the beef industry. We strongly value diversity amongst applicants where all are welcome to apply, as it plays a key role in young leaders gaining exposure to new ideas and creating peer learning experiences. If you’re interested in taking the next step to fast-track your career and involvement in the Canadian beef industry, or know of a young person who would excel in this program, please visit our website for more information. Please direct any questions about the program or application process to CCA Youth Leadership Coordinator, Jessica Giles, at gilesj@cattle.ca.
Are you a Canadian farmer? You are invited to complete an online survey to help researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College understand the impacts of your work on your mental health. It will take about 20 minutes and will provide our agricultural community with important information on the mental health of our farmers. Enter 5 draws to win $200 (odds of winning ~1 in 1000) This project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Board for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants (REB#21-01-001)
https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgmMRnTsAYoChEN
Please contact Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton with questions or concerns: aqjones@uoguelph.ca (519) 824 – 4120 ext. 54786
Stock Talk Webinars Reminder Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development produces free Livestock webinars- live and on demand. Manitoba Agriculture specialists and invited guests will speak to a variety of topics related to livestock feed and nutrition, marketing and production management. Register Now https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5726092041423487502 Please do not share your hyperlink to the webinar only one person can enter the webinar on each link. By registering, you will receive an email with the link to the recorded webinar for viewing at a time that is more convenient to you. StockTalk webinars are also available on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ManitobaAgriculture.
2021 ANNUAL T.K. CHEUNG LECTURE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
HANDLING CATTLE, PIGS, AND SHEEP AT MEAT PLANTS PRESENTED BY DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN PROFESSOR OF ANIMAL SCIENCE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Via Zoom - Register at bit.ly/cheung2021 or email chengbo.yang@umanitoba.ca Dr. Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and she has been a pioneer in improving the handling and welfare of farm animals. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Temple’s achievements are remarkable because she was an autistic child. At age two she had no speech and all the signs of severe autism. Many hours of speech therapy, and intensive teaching enabled Temple to learn speech. As a teenager, life was hard with constant teasing. Mentoring by her high school science teacher and her aunt on her ranch in Arizona motivated Temple to study and pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. Dr. Temple Grandin obtained her B.A. at Franklin Pierce College in 1970. In 1974 she was employed as Livestock Editor for the Arizona Farmer Ranchman and also worked for Corral Industries on equipment design. In 1975 she earned her M.S. in Animal Science at Arizona State University for her work on the behavior of cattle in different squeeze chutes. Dr. Grandin was awarded her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989 and is currently a Professor at Colorado State University. She has done extensive work on the design of handling facilities. Half the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in equipment she has designed for meat plants. Other professional activities include developing animal welfare guidelines for the meat industry and consulting with companies on animal welfare. (See Dr. Grandin’s complete bio at bit.ly/cheung2021). This annual lecture recognizes and honours Dr. Tsang Kay (Stan) Cheung’s enduring support for the Department of Animal Science and agricultural research at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Cheung obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the U of M. His graduate training was in Animal Breeding/Genetics under the supervision of the late Dr. Bob Parker. He was also awarded a Doctor of Laws from the U of M in 1991. Dr. Cheung returned to his family business in Hong Kong in 1975 and is currently the Executive Chairman/Director of Herald Holdings Ltd. Dr. Cheung’s many contributions include support of the TK Cheung Center for Animal Science Research, the National Center for Livestock and the Environment, the TK Cheung Reading Room and recent contributions to education and research in Animal Science. In recognition of his generosity and commitment to education and research, the Department established this annual seminar in his honour.