-More companies in the country are starting to import beef because the Canadian supply chain can’t get anything done with shutdowns and scale backs at processing plants in this country due to outbreaks of Covid-19 among plant workers.
Both McDonalds and Sobeys are importing beef.
Yesterday, U-S President Donald Trump used his country’s “Defence Production Act” to order meat processing plants to stay open by declaring them critical infrastructure.
During our Prime Minister’s daily Covid update this morning, Justin Trudeau was asked if something similar is going to happen in Canada:
“We understand how important it is to ensure the supply of food to Canadians right across the country and we’re watching with interest and concern some of the issues facing meat producers and the supply chain across the agricultural industry. We’re working with provinces, we’re working with the sector. Agricultural Canada is very much on this issue. We need to continue to stay vigilant because of the large disruptions across many different sectors in our country, including agriculture.”
There was no mention of financially helping livestock producers, even though they have been pleading for federal help.
In the meantime, Senator Rod Black, who focuses on agriculture and rural Canada, has sent a letter to the Prime Minister and Ag Minister, asking for financial support for the beef and pork sectors. Alberta Senators Doug Black, Elaine McCoy and Scott Tannas are part of the group of senators who are asking for that help.
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-We knew this was coming and now it’s official. The Ponoka Stampede has been cancelled for this year. But the people behind it say it will return next June. And yes, you can blame Covid-19.
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-Something good HAS come out of the pandemic.
-If you’ve ever tasted something at a past “Open Farm Days” event in the province and really wanted that item again, but didn’t want to make the drive to the farm, now is your chance to possibly have it delivered to your door.
“Open Farm Days” has joined forces with “The Organic Box” onliner grocer, where you can purchase Alberta-produced foods without having to leave your home.
Nicola Doherty with the Alberta Ag Societies is the curator for the farms and says it’s like a ” grocery box of the week”:
“You have a choice of which farm box to buy, but the way The Organic Box works, is that your can purchase the Open Farm Days box, and then if you want on extra groceries as well, then that can be your groceries for the week. So if you want to add in veggies.. So if you buy a meat box, then you can go in and add some veggies and stuff and they get delivered to your door.”
“We have heard from The Organic Box that we’re going to be creating new boxes going forward. So far we have had meat boxes for the north and south zones of the province, and a pantry box as well. What we’re going to try and do is introduce consumers to all the different varieties of produce created in Alberta. We’ll even have a “foodie box”, which will feature some of the more unusual things many people may not realize are grown here, more meat boxes, veggie boxes, grilling boxes and more.”
You can head to theorganicbox.ca to find out more.
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-The most recent Covid-19 forecast model in Alberta shows all the sacrifices people are making, are making a “critical difference” in the fight against the virus. Things have changed since the Premier hit the airwaves with a grim outlook for the province.
The government has since scaled back, with the probable forecast that just under 6-hundred people will need to be hospitalized, while 190 will need critical care when the virus reaches its peak in late May. Jason Kenney does say we’re still a “ways off” from returning to our normal way of life, while the government is working on a phased approach to relaunch the economy. He hopes that can start next month.-Alberta’s Covid-19 rate now stands at more than 48-hundred and five more people have died.
The government has since scaled back, with the probable forecast that just under 6-hundred people will need to be hospitalized, while 190 will need critical care when the virus reaches its peak in late May. Jason Kenney does say we’re still a “ways off” from returning to our normal way of life, while the government is working on a phased approach to relaunch the economy. He hopes that can start next month.-Alberta’s Covid-19 rate now stands at more than 48-hundred and five more people have died.
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-By the way, if you see someone, a business or anything that doesn’t appear to be listening to those rules, you can “narc them out.” You can either do so online or by leaving a message on the complaint line.
Submit a complaint:
https://ephisahs.microsoftcrmportals.com/create-case/
If you cannot submit online, you can also call 1-833-415-9179 to submit a complaint by leaving a message when prompted. Please only submit a complaint once. Do not submit online and by phone.
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-The city of Edmonton wants to bump up its borrowing limit as a way of dealing with less tax revenue money in the summer piggybank. That’s because while property taxes are typically due in June, they’re being deferred til the end of August because of Covid-19. Right now, officials have no idea who is going to be able to pay right away and who is going to have to put things off a bit. If the city gets the green light to borrow more, the money will have to be repaid with three years.
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-In the meantime, the province is temporarily allowing registry agents to provide certain services by phone, secure email, fax or mail. The point is to limit the number of people needing to see the agents in person. This would cover some corporate and personal property registries, but if you need a new driver’s licence or ID card, you need to go in person as they require up to date official photos.
Services available remotely
Registry agents are offering the following registry services through alternative delivery methods:
- All corporate registry services, available by fax or email
- All personal property registry services, available by fax or email
- Select motor vehicles services, available by telephone, fax, mail or email (with secure encryption), including:
- One-year driver’s licence and identification card renewals (with existing photo)
- Driver’s licence and ID card replacement or cancellation
- Vehicle registration renewals
- If no changes are required to passenger vehicle or motorcycle registrations, one-year renewals can be completed online
- Duplicate vehicle registration certificates
- Replacement expiry date stickers for licence plates
- Vehicle registration transfers (to a new vehicle)
- Driver abstracts
- Specialty plate orders
There are some services that registry agents cannot process remotely, and therefore require in-person service, including:
- New driver’s licence or ID card applications
- Driver’s licence and ID card renewals requiring an updated photo
- Vital Statistics services, such as ordering birth or death certificates
Quick facts
- The Government of Alberta has identified registry agents as an essential service.
- Some registry agents have voluntarily closed, and others may be operating with reduced hours. Albertans should phone ahead to ensure the agent is open.
- Albertans with driver’s licences, ID cards and vehicle registrations expiring March 17 through May 14 have until May 15 to renew.
Related information
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-Farmers applying for cash advances through the Advance Payments Program have been running into delays in accessing the money. Covid-19 and more program checks by the feds have been causing slowdowns. Rick White is the head of the Canola Growers Association:
“Ag Canada implemented new rules on assessing a more stringent process to determine credit worthiness for the 2020 program starting April 1st. So that added a lot more work to an already reduced functionality of our business continuity.”
He says longtime customers with no past credit issues should get through fairly quickly, but others will take longer.
He says longtime customers with no past credit issues should get through fairly quickly, but others will take longer.
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-How nice is this? London Drugs is going to be helping small businesses in western Canada sell their stuff in some of their stores. The head of the Canadian company says they’re an essential service, so they’ve been allowed to stay open during the pandemic. And now, President Clint Mahlman says they just really want to help their fellow Canadian businesses. So, any small business in western Canada that has been forced to close, can submit products for consideration. Customers can also tag businesses they feel could use the help.
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