Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Thursday, February 22, 2018

Today – Mainly cloudy. 60 percent chance of light snow late this morning and early this afternoon. Wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40. High plus 3.

Tonight – Becoming cloudy late this evening. Drizzle beginning before morning. Risk of freezing drizzle overnight. Wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40. Low zero with temperature rising to plus 3 by morning.

Spring Break guide

It’s Spring Break time!

Going south with your fellow students to party on a beach or travelling with your children for a week in the sun?

Spring break is one of the most popular times for Canadians to travel.

Whatever your reason for going south for spring break, you should be aware that you are travelling during one of the busiest times of the year, when border traffic volume increases and airports are jammed.

Here are some tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

– Be prepared

– Check Global Affairs Canada Travel Advice and Advisories for in-depth information on your destination country. And keep checking their site for official advice and the information you need to travel wisely and return home safely.

– See a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you leave to make sure your vaccinations are up-to–date and for other advice on how to protect yourself from illness and injury.

– If you are travelling with children, make sure you read Tips for healthy travel with children, Children and travel and Taking children on a plane and carry a consent letter, if necessary.

– Sign up with Registration of Canadians Abroad to stay connected to Canada.

– Your Canadian health insurance will not protect you when you are outside the country. Get the best travel insurance you can buy.

– Sign up for Travel.gc.ca’s Travel Smart app, Twitter and Facebook accounts to receive travel-related information and updates.

– Check the expiry date of your passport. Do you need to renew it? Do you need a visa to enter your destination country? To enter the U.S. you must have a passport, a U. S. Passport Card, Enhanced Driver’s Licence or a Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST).

– Pack a travel health kit and read other health tips, including Eat and drink safely and Insect bite prevention, before you leave home.

– Pack an extra supply of your prescription or over-the-counter medications in case you are away for longer than expected. Read Travelling with medication and Travelling with a medical device for more information.

– Read Global Affairs Canada’s page on Alcohol, drugs and travel and make sure you understand the risks.

– Make a travel checklist and read Global Affairs Canada’s publications, such as Bon Voyage, but… Essential Information for Canadian Travellers, Her Own Way – A woman’s Safe-Travel Guide and Well on Your Way – A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad.

– If you are flying, check Global Affairs Canada’s Air travel page for information on what you can bring on a plane, pre-boarding identification requirements and an explanation of the airport security screening process. If you have packed your baggage properly and have all of the necessary pre-boarding identification with you, you will make your way through airport security with a minimum of delay. Before you leave home, check the airport security screening wait time at your international airport to save time before you leave.

– If you are driving, be aware that border traffic volume will have increased, so avoid peak travel times. Save time by checking the Canada to U.S. border wait times for your port of entry before you to leave home. And when you return to Canada, check the U.S. to Canada border wait times and get home faster.

“Many Canadian families and students will soon be travelling to sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean,” Global Affairs Canada said in a written statement.

“The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously, and wants to ensure that Canadian travellers are well-informed so that they can travel safely. “Canadians requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the nearest embassy or consulate abroad. Canadians can also contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at any time by calling collect 1 613 996 8885 or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.”

Flooding emergency in Ontario

State of emergency declared as Ontario flood crisis continues

Promoting the development of Canada’s organic sector

The Canadian organic industry is one of Canada’s fastest growing agricultural sectors, thanks to Canada’s hardworking organic farmers and food processors who are respected around the world for supplying nutritious, sustainable, and high-quality organic products. Growing the Canadian organic sector, which had more than $5.4 billion in retail sales in 2017, will contribute to our government’s ambitious goal of reaching $75 billion in annual agri-food exports by 2025.

Speaking last month at the Guelph Organic Conference and Tradeshow, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced that the Government of Canada is providing essential support to update the Canadian Organic Standards.

The Government of Canada will provide the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) with the necessary funds to cover costs associated with the 2020 Canadian Organic Standards review. The review is done every five years to ensure that production methodologies reflect current practices and technological advances being used by the organic industry. Recognized product standards are a key factor in the facilitation of international trade, and officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will continue working with the sector to further support its sustainability and growth.

“Our farmers and processors are responding more and more to the growing demand from consumers in Canada and around the world for high-quality organic products,” stated Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“Updating the Canadian Organics Standards is important since they ensure our organic products are recognized in Canada and around the world. The government is proud to support this rapidly expanding sector, which is helping reach our goal of $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025 and access to good-paying jobs for the middle class.”

Leading up to this announcement, AAFC facilitated discussions with the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to streamline the process of updating the standards and reduced the cost to $250,000.

Over the next three years, the Government of Canada will provide up to $250,000 to the CGSB to cover costs associated with the 2020 Canadian Organic Standards review.

Annual retail sales of certified organic products in Canada are approximately $5.4 billion, and exports are more than $500 million, with $85 million of that amount coming from Quebec.

Canada has approximately 4,289 certified organic and transitional farm businesses, including 448 maple syrup operations, on over 930,000 hectares of land.

Quebec has 1,268 farms and 416 maple syrup operations that are certified organic or transitional.

The Bio pour tous! conference was first held by CETAB+ in 2015. Each year, the conference draws more than 200 agricultural producers and stakeholders as well as many participants from a variety of backgrounds who are interested in organic farming.

Since October 2015, our government has invested nearly $20 million in support of the organic sector, focusing on:

– Facilitating adoption of innovative organic technologies;

– Helping organic farmers and processors take advantage of market opportunities;

– Funding youth jobs in the organic sector; and

– Conducting organic research activities.

Public Services and Procurement Canada’s CGSB is a federal government organization that offers client-centred, comprehensive standards development and conformity assessment services in support of the economic, regulatory, procurement, health, safety and environmental interests of government, industry and consumers.

In July 2017, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture reached an agreement in principle on the key elements of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion investment that will set a solid foundation for the future of Canada’s farmers and food processors and continue to help them grow, innovate and prosper. The Partnership is set to launch on April 1, 2018.