A House of Commons committee report is urging the federal government to reverse planned closures of agricultural research centres and experimental farms across Canada.  New Democrats and unions warn planned cuts of more than 650 jobs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and 600 positions at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency could weaken food safety.  The Agriculture Union national president says inspection and research are critical to preventing food-borne illness and helping farmers adapt to climate change and crop failures.

The federal government says the C-F-I-A is refocusing spending while maintaining food safety standards.

 

 

Take note that RCMP officers will be conducting training exercises today between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Elliott St. in Pictou.  Police say that residents may notice an increased police presence and noise during the training.

 

 

Ottawa has issued a request for proposals from groups committed to cleaning up lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear.  Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson made the announcement yesterday in Yarmouth.  She says her department has already set aside 15-million dollars over the next three years.  Thompson says that since the fund was launched in 2020, more than 25-hundred tonnes of ghost gear has been removed from Canadian waters.

 

 

The Pictou County Climate Summit is coming up on May 29th.  It’s a one-day, facilitated working session that brings together people from across the region to explore how the environment, community, and local economy intersect, and where collective action can drive progress.  It’s on May 29th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pictou County Wellness Centre.