Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay has announced a federal investment of up to $8.3 million to the Organic Federation of Canada, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Clusters.

This research investment, which includes an additional $4.4 million in contributions from industry, will help the organic sector enhance productivity through better soil health and fertility management, advance crop breeding research, improve pest management, and evaluate the environmental impacts of organic farm practices.

MacAulay also announced an additional investment of $292,555 to the Organic Federation of Canada under the federal Canadian Agricultural Adaptation program. The funding will assist industry in streamlining the review process of the Canadian Organic Standards and improve the Canadian organic industry’s competitiveness and international market access. This funding builds upon the $250,000 announced by the Minister on January 26, towards the Canadian General Standards Board to complete the 2020 review of the Canadian Organic Standards.

The announcement is part of MacAulay’s ‘Growing Canadian Agriculture’ tour, where he will meet with farmers, processors and industry leaders, as well as participate in rural agricultural events across the country, to hear ideas on how to capture new growth opportunities for the sector.

“Demand for our world-class Canadian organic products continues to grow around the world and our Government is proud to support our organic farmers and food processors so they can meet that demand,” MacAulay said.

“Today’s significant investment into the science of organic agriculture will help our organic farmers grow more and grow better. And, we are pleased to support the Canadian Organic Standards, which are the backbone of the organic industry.”

“The Organic Federation of Canada is very pleased with AAFC’s commitment to develop Canadian organic agriculture science and sustainability. This funding will allow researchers to continue improving the sustainability of agricultural practices, which is at the heart of organic production. The Canadian Organic Sustainability Framework supports the entire organic value-chain and review of the Canadian Organic Standards, which is essential for maintaining our integrity and competitiveness on the world stage. We value the Government of Canada as a partner of choice for the Canadian organic sector.”

UFCW 1518is urging members to vote “No” and reject the recommendations issued by Special Officer Vince Ready in a province-wide vote next week.

In January, Sobeys closed 10 Safeway stores in British Columbia, suggesting it would reopen five of them if it got concessions in a new collective agreement. Negotiations between union and company stalled in March after Sobeys refused to budge from its concessions-only demands.

“If some of our members can’t even afford to shop at Safeway, I don’t know how Sobeys thinks they’d be able to live on less. Our members deserve a living wage, not poverty concessions,” said Union President Ivan Limpright.

“We have been at a deadlock from the beginning of negotiations. It was truly our hope with the appointment of the Special Officer that we would see some real movement to a resolution through mediation which is yet to happen,” Limpright added.

The union says Sobeys is attempting to gut the collective agreement and see workers endure more hardship. The recommendations also threaten the viability of the grocery industry in British Columbia, poised to start a race to the bottom in an already fierce market.

Limpright says the special officer’s recommendations would demand untold concessions from the majority of the union’s 4000 Safeway members through a process called Quarterly Review. Negotiations for the reopener of the collective agreement between UFCW 1518 and Sobeys would be placed on hold until an undetermined date, and the parties would begin bargaining for a new collective agreement for FreshCo, Sobeys discount banner. In other provinces, FreshCo also has a discount collective agreement, with inferior wages and benefits for workers.

“We’re holding a provincewide vote because we need to hear from members on this. The recommendations are so alarming that our bargaining committee is strongly urging our members reject them by voting no,” explained President Limpright. “We know our members will come out in force and tell Sobeys where to stick those recommendations.”

Loblaw Companies Ltd. and George Weston Ltd. (GWL) Have announced a reorganization under which Loblaw will spin out its 61.6 per cent interest in Choice Properties REIT.

Under the spin-out, Loblaw common shareholders other than GWL will receive 0.135 of a GWL common share per Loblaw share, which is equivalent to the market value of their pro rata interest in Choice Properties, and GWL will receive Loblaw’s 61.6 per cent interest in Choice Properties.

After the spin-out, Loblaw will not retain any equity interest in Choice Properties and will be a pure-play Canadian food and drug retailer.

“The reorganization will result in a more efficient group structure, that strategically benefits both Loblaw and Choice Properties, which in turn strengthens GWL,” said Galen G. Weston, Chairman and CEO, Loblaw Companies Ltd. and George Weston Ltd.

“Loblaw, Choice Properties and GWL investors will all benefit from the strategic and investment clarity this transaction brings.”

“Over the past few years, the strategies of Loblaw and Choice Properties have diverged. Loblaw is focused on strengthening its core retail business and growing in areas such as digital, healthcare, payments and rewards, while Choice Properties is focused on mixed-use development and investments in diversified real estate asset classes,” said Sarah Davis, President of Loblaw Companies Ltd.

“Our retail store network continues to be a key competitive advantage for us, but we don’t see ownershipof real estate as core to our strategy going forward.”

Loblaw plans to maintain its current quarterly common share dividend after the spin-out. GWL plans to raise its quarterly common share dividend by 5 per cent to $0.515 per share (or $2.06 per share annualized), contingent on the closing of this transaction.

Therefore, aggregating dividends from the two companies, Loblaw shareholders who hold their distributed GWL common shares post-closing of the transaction will receive a 24 per cent increase in their current dividend as a result of the spin-out.

The transaction will have no impact on the important, ongoing operating relationship between Loblaw and Choice Properties and all current agreements and arrangements, including the Strategic Alliance Agreement and leases, will remain in place after the spin-out. In addition, Loblaw will continue to be Choice Properties’ largest tenant.

Loblaw and GWL do not expect any change to the credit ratings of Loblaw, Choice Properties or GWL by Standard and Poor’s or DBRS as a result of the spin-out.

The plan of arrangement will require the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes cast by all the common shareholders of Loblaw, as well as a majority of the votes cast by Loblaw Minority Shareholders. The vote will be conducted at a special meeting of Loblaw shareholders expected to take place in October 2018.

La Coop fédérée, a Montreal-based agri-food co-operative with operations across Canada, and W-S Feed & Supplies Ltd., announced today that La Coop fédérée will purchase a 50% stake in the animal nutrition company based in Tavistock, Ont.

W-S Feeds operates two feed mills in Ontario, in Tavistock and Mount Forest. The new partnership will continue to manufacture a wide variety of feeds for dairy production, including organic, beef, swine and poultry production.

“This investment represents a strategic entry into the Ontario market, in the animal nutrition industry this time” says Ghislain Gervais, president of La Coop fédérée. “This partnership develops our portfolio of operations in the province and shows how important it is for us to provide farmers across the country with quality products and solutions for their animal feed,” he adds.

After recently gaining a foothold in the Prairie provinces for its animal feed activities with the acquisition of Standard Nutrition Canada, La Coop fédérée’s Agri-business Division keeps extending this line of business which is already well established in Quebec and the Maritimes. Earlier this year, the Agri-business Division also announced the acquisition of Cargill’s crop input and grain assets in Ontario, a transaction pending the approval of Canada’s Competition Bureau.

Young Living Essential Oils, the world leader in essential oils, announced today that its Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 received the Seal of Recommendation from The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Lehi, Utah-baed Young Living’s Mineral Sunscreen meets the Foundation’s stringent criteria for safe and effective daily use broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) sun protection.

The Skin Cancer Foundation has set the standard for educating the public and the medical community about skin cancer, and focuses on decreasing the incidence and mortality of the world’s most common cancer. Occurring at epidemic levels, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70; and one person dies of melanoma, the most dangerous form of the disease, every hour.

To earn the Seal of Recommendation, a manufacturer must provide scientific data showing that its product adequately and safely “aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin.” The data is reviewed by a volunteer committee of photobiologists who are experts in the study of the interaction between ultraviolet radiation and the skin.

“When our scientists at Young Living formulated the Mineral Sunscreen, we wanted to offer people sun protection that doesn’t use harsh chemicals; and through our strict Seed to Seal process, we produced an effective, safe sunscreen that is genuine and pure for people of all ages,” said Dr. Michael Buch, Young Living Chief Science Officer. “We are proud that our Mineral Sunscreen will now carry The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. (sflix.video) ”

Young Living’s Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is an over-the-counter, natural sunscreen that doesn’t contain chemical UV absorbers, making it a safe alternative for adults and kids.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. has closed a previously announced debt facility with the Bank of Montreal consisting of a $150-million term loan and a $50-million revolving credit facility, both of which mature in 2021.

Included in the facility is an option to upsize the facility to $250-million total following the implementation of Bill C-45 on October 17, 2018, subject to agreement by BMO and satisfaction of certain legal and business conditions.

The debt facility is primarily secured by Aurora’s production facilities, including Aurora Sky, Aurora Mountain, and Aurora Vie.

Strategically located at Edmonton International Airport, Aurora Sky is the world’s most technologically advanced cannabis facility, projected to produce in excess of 100,000 kg per year of high-quality, low-cost per gram, cannabis upon completion.

“With BMO and the syndicate lenders, Aurora gains significant runway to expansion opportunities that will positively contribute to our long-term margin profile and provide accelerated entry into multiple international markets,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora.

“This additional capital positions us well to continue building the pre-eminent global cannabis company with a focus on vertically integrated, geographically and horizontally diversified assets.”

Headquartered in Edmonton, Aurora is one of the world’s largest and leading cannabis companies.

TheSupreme Cannabis Company has obtained Health Canada approval to commence cultivation on approximately 20,000 square feet of additional flowering rooms at its 7ACRES facility.

The additional flowering rooms will increase total potential flowering capacity to 90,000 square feet and, assuming a current yield, will bring 7ACRES’ annual production potential from 10,000kg to 13,330kg.

“As the first coast-to-coast premium cannabis brand in Canada, 7ACRES is already one of the fastest scaling producers in the country. This flowering room expansion continues to increase our capacity and improve our ability to meet the demand of cannabis enthusiasts upon legalization of adult use cannabis in Canada,” said John Fowler, CEO of Supreme Cannabis.

Completion of flowering rooms at the 342,000-square foot 7ACRES facility remains on schedule for completion in December 2018. With an annual production capacity expected to reach 50,000 kg once the 7ACRES facility is fully operational, the Company is committed to supplying premium-quality cannabis flower to the Canadian recreational market from coast-to-coast.

Visit www.supreme.ca and www.7ACRES.com for more information.