Ken Cameron

@FoodProfessor Those direct income supports to the dairy sector are very likely to return in other forms. The supply management proponents have significant political influences.

Ottawa has finally come to its senses regarding the overly generous compensation programs granted to supply-managed sectors when CUSMA was ratified. According to Farmtario Magazine this morning, payments to dairy and poultry producers and processors are being reduced, including a $131 million cut to the Dairy Direct Payment Program. These programs were introduced to "compensate" supply-managed sectors after portions of the domestic market were opened to imports under successive trade agreements, including CUSMA. Farmers argued they were incurring losses as a result of these deals—but the data never fully supported that claim. At last, a dose of logic appears to be prevailing.

@FoodProfessor Taxation leverage - the invisible hand that is always in your wallet.

"My guess is that most Canadians think the carbon tax is gone—but it isn’t. And many still don’t fully understand how it works. That uncertainty creates space for pro–carbon tax advocates to promote a policy that has never been properly evaluated for its impact on food affordability in Canada."

@FoodProfessor Conflict is no stranger to this region. Resolution is not so easy to achieve and that impact will continue to have world wide repercussions.

"If the Iran conflict persists, rising energy costs will continue to put pressure on our food supply chains. But the real risk may come later. With fertilizer flows disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, agricultural commodity markets could turn nervous in the months ahead. That could push prices for wheat, corn, and soybeans significantly higher—hardly good news for global food security."

@FoodProfessor The inflection point is significant and makes one wonder what events occurred in the 18 months prior.

Cost of living vs. food prices in Canada since 2006. The break happened in 2008. Since then, food inflation has followed its own path—and Canada never truly caught up.

@imboblayton1 Truly a remarkable approach!

Mother's Day gift - read it first and then wrap it up! See details at tinyurl.com/4y6chb5n

@FoodProfessor Employment pressures are an indicator of overall economic underperformance.

New food inflation data will be released today in Canada at 8:30 a.m. ET.

@FoodProfessor This is a great lesson on how to effectively bring the economy to a net zero.

If Canada sees 800–1,200 long-haul food truck trips a day, a $110/tonne carbon tax means roughly $34M to $52M a year in carbon-tax costs on diesel alone. And that doesn’t include higher fuel prices themselves, clean fuel costs, refrigeration, or backhauls.

@FoodProfessor While one hand appears to give a little relief, the other hand is increasing its take

"All countries around the world will likely see food prices rise as oil prices surge, including Canada. Those with an industrial carbon tax that is increasing this Spring will suffer even more—and Canada is among them."

@desmarais_manon @FoodProfessor The price we pay for certain uncertainty

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@FoodProfessor Oh, you're reliving some misspent youth!

Went on a pizza tour last night in Toronto with good friend and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc. We stopped at Badiali in Toronto’s west end—where there was a long lineup outside—and Bar Sugo on Queen Street. Wonderful pizza.

@jaycola @FoodProfessor @MarkJCarney Once we come out our winter dens and start to forage, everything will be better .

@MarkJCarney Liberals pushing up food costs through hidden climate taxes. Shifting the tax burden from consumers to companies doesn't change that food prices increases are the result. When will Canadians see climate benefit from paying more for food?

@FoodProfessor There is a very real risk that cheese curds may open up many other protectionist sentiments.

Supply management just gave Quebec an even greater excuse to keep interprovincial barriers.

@FoodProfessor Thoughtful leadership and a broad understanding of risk management are wonderful qualities for any company.

BTW, Greg Abel who is replacing Buffett is Canadian.

Incoming CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Greg Abel — who will replace the legendary Warren Buffett — said this morning he’s happy Kraft Heinz is not splitting. Berkshire is a major shareholder in the company. That’s likely code for saying Buffett didn’t like the idea and stopped it.

@FoodProfessor It is all about timing, whether good, bad, or incidental, adding cost without any risk is what governments are most qualified to do

As energy costs rise amid escalating tensions involving Iran, Canada’s industrial carbon tax is also set to increase on April 1 — to C$110 per tonne, up from C$95 per tonne. Lovely timing...

@Martyupnorth Getting a product to market that provides a rate of return as well as the multitude of regulatory hurdles that intentionally put up barriers to success make energy investors seek less challenging environments.

Investments in oil & gas extraction dropped as soon as the Liberals got into power. That's $20-$25 billion dollars a year that was spent in other countries.

Capital expenditures in the oil and gas extraction industries totalled $11.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 7.2% from the third quarter. 1/

@GasPriceWizard We definitely hear of numerous initiatives. The operative word is 'hear'.

Except Carney as agent of change is wrong as he’s merely tinkered w/route to achieving NetZero 1- while ridding 🇨🇦 of the consumer carbon tax, he’s imposed 2 other c-taxes 2- EV mandates gone, replaced by a 75% tailpipe reduction 3- no pipelines OK’d w/o fully decarbonized

@FoodProfessor The story - follow the money - is a narrative of whose "invisible hand" is steering the selective information. And all the while using the taxpayer funding to create and control spin. Perhaps the motto " Make Canada Mediocre Again" will gain some traction.

To my X followers, I’ve worked with the media for nearly 25 years. For most of that time, the relationship was professional and balanced. But in recent years, something has shifted. I am increasingly concerned about the state of our democracy — particularly how media, in general, are informing Canadians about food policy, food inflation, and economic policy. I now find myself learning more about Canada’s economy and policy changes from American outlets than from Canadian ones. Much of our national coverage feels reactive, shallow, or overly fixated on partisan narratives rather than substantive policy analysis. What troubles me most is the lack of scrutiny applied evenly across governments and institutions. For example, when the Bank of Canada suggested that Ottawa’s counter-tariffs contributed to food inflation, only one major outlet — Bloomberg — gave it meaningful coverage. The grocery benefit program received very little examination regarding how it would be financed. It took days before anyone pressed for clarity. During the latest spike in food inflation, several outlets turned to the same small circle of commentators who dismissed any potential role of federal policy — carbon pricing, GST holidays, counter-tariffs — despite mounting evidence that policy decisions can and do affect food prices. Instead of investigating structural drivers of inflation, much of the coverage focuses on fact-checking opposition rhetoric, even though the opposition has not governed since 2015. Scrutiny should be applied equally — not selectively. Quebec media, while imperfect, appear to have maintained a broader range of debate. In much of the rest of Canada, I see increasing concentration of voices — often from the same region, Ontario, often reflecting similar policy perspectives — and less diversity of thought grounded in empirical research. This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about accountability, transparency, and healthy democratic discourse. Media are under financial pressure — that’s real. But public trust depends on independence and depth. Subsidy structures, incentives, and newsroom economics all matter. Canada deserves stronger policy journalism — especially on food affordability, supply chains, and economic resilience. We need more data-driven analysis, more intellectual diversity, and more courage to ask uncomfortable questions — regardless of which party is in power. Until that happens, Canadians would be wise to diversify their news sources and think critically about what they’re being told — and what they’re not.

@RKotzma @GasPriceWizard The real politics are prestige, pay and pension. Once elected the constituents and the party are irrelevant.

Never voted for Dan, but he was ALWAYS a man of principles and good character. Mad respect for the @GasPriceWizard

@FoodProfessor Both the transportation costs and associates time to acquire those food supplies has also increased proportionally as well.

Canada still has more grocery stores per 100,000 people than the U.S. — but our store density is falling faster. Since 2021, Canada’s ratio has dropped about 6%, compared to roughly 1% in the United States. Population growth is clearly outpacing retail expansion in Canada.

@SharonT20519250 While the challenge that is President Trump, the United States has carried the economic burden of many nations with very little thanks. The status quo needed address and redress.

It’s certainly a “Damned if you do..damned if you don’t” situation.