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Kody Blois is headed back to Ottawa after securing re-election — and he’s bringing a renewed sense of urgency to his role as Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development Blois has officially secured his third consecutive election victory The Nova Scotia MP was re-elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants in yesterday’s election In the wake of a fiercely competitive campaign that culminated in the recent ag leaders debate hosted by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture on April 17, Blois wasted no time reinforcing his commitment to farmers agriculture will not take a back seat — it will drive Canada’s broader economic strategy and this is a crucial moment for Canada,” Blois said “Under the leadership of Mark Carney as our prime minister we will not only have the best plan to hold the country together but the strongest plan to help drive agriculture forward.” who was first appointed agriculture minister earlier this year pointed to several pillars of his agenda: boosting domestic processing strengthening business risk management programs and expanding market access at home and abroad A cornerstone of Blois’s plan is building more capacity at home His government is committing $200 million toward a Domestic Processing Fund to strengthen Canada’s agri-food infrastructure “We are the only party standing here today with six concrete priorities for agriculture,” Blois said We know there needs to be more domestic agri-food capacity.” Trade infrastructure is also front and centre Blois highlighted a $5 billion pledge toward Canada’s strategic ports a move he says is crucial to helping Canadian farmers and food exporters stay competitive globally “We know Canada feeds the world — but it’s not enough to have theoretical market access,” he said “We need boots on the ground to tackle non-tariff trade barriers and regulatory challenges.” Blois has also made cutting red tape a personal mission he directed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to adopt nine immediate measures to streamline regulatory processes “An economic and food security lens will be placed on every decision moving forward.” He acknowledged the importance of maintaining Canada’s world-class food safety standards but stressed that innovation and competitiveness must not be strangled by bureaucracy Blois also took aim at previous Conservative government cuts to business risk management programs vowing to continue rebuilding support for farmers “Our government reinvested in AgriStability removing the reference margin limit and increasing the compensation rate to 80%,” Blois noted we’re committing to moving that to 90% permanently — with a cap increase from $3 million to $6 million.” flexible programs must be part of the future particularly as farmers face greater volatility from global markets and climate change Blois made it clear he wants Canada to follow successful global models by encouraging more private sector investment into agriculture and food innovation and Europe when it comes to agri-food investment,” he said “It’s time to create the environment that attracts venture capital and builds domestic processing strength.” Blois proposed public-private partnership models where modest government co-investments can unlock larger streams of private capital Blois stressed the urgency of diversifying Canada’s markets citing major opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region and ongoing work with Mexico and Europe He also celebrated the upcoming removal of interprovincial trade barriers — a step he says will boost Canada’s internal market for agri-food products “Good news: our premiers and Prime Minister have agreed to remove interprovincial barriers by July 1,” he said “That’s real progress for Canadian farmers.” Blois’s message to farmers during the debate was simple: the work has already started “This is a foundational pillar of our growth strategy,” he said “Agriculture isn’t just about supporting farmers — it’s about driving the strongest and fastest-growing economy in the G7.” We use cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience, personalize content of our site, analyse its traffic and show you relevant ads. See our privacy policy for more information Powered by WP Full Picture PRO Kody Blois has scored a political hat trick a former Maritime Junior Hockey League goalie who grew up in the East Hants community of Belnan was looking for his third election win as a Liberal April 28 There was a buzz in the air as Blois’ campaign supporters watched results start to roll in for the Kings-Hants riding As his lead widened over Conservative candidate Joel Hirtle arrived at the Old Orchard Inn and the room erupted into cheers long before the final buzzer sounded Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience “The feeling never gets old,” Blois said after making his rounds “Obviously the privilege of having the opportunity to serve and to represent people is something I take extremely seriously,” he said I haven’t had the chance to see all the poll-by-poll results but we were getting a good feeling on the doorsteps When Justin Trudeau resigned as prime minister on Jan Blois threw his support behind Carney for the Liberal leadership The Liberal Party of Canada voted overwhelmingly in favour of Carney Blois was then appointed the minister of agriculture as part of Carney’s cabinet he served as the chair of the Atlantic Liberal caucus He said it “would be an immense privilege” if Carney reappoints him to cabinet Blois won with 60.6 per cent of the vote (35,836) while Paul Doer (NDP) came in third with 3.6 per cent of the votes cast (2,154) followed by Karen Beazley (Green Party) with 1.4 per cent (825) and Alexander Cargill (People Party of Canada) with one per cent (591) a tire builder at the Michelin plant in Waterville watched the results come in from his campaign headquarters in downtown Windsor before walking across the street to Walkers Restaurant where he thanked his wife Alisha certainly not the results that we were hoping for certainly not the results that we all worked so hard for,” he said The Conservatives were ahead in the polls before the Liberals changed leaders earlier this year and U.S President Donald Trump threatened Canadian sovereignty people took to social media to raise concerns with posts Hirtle allegedly made in 2018 along with Hirtle’s decision not to participate in two debates and raised questions about his attendance while a municipal councillor with the County of Kings during an April 13 gathering in Wolfville “There (were) some factors,” Hirtle said without specifying and later declined an interview request “We know why some things changed differently than we would have expected.” The Coldbrook resident told his supporters the result will provide an opportunity to continue to build the party’s base by speaking with residents about the issues during the next four years we’re going in a direction that we shouldn’t be.” he had faith the folks of Kings-Hants will come around Blois said regardless of political stripes he will work for the betterment of all constituents We’re friends and neighbours at the end of the day and even though people may have cast a ballot a different way today and I’ll still happily serve and do whatever I can to be a strong advocate for everyone in this riding,” Blois said Given Trump’s Canadian sovereignty threats suggesting it would be better off as the 51st state Blois said people need to be on the same page and work together to keep Canada intact “We’re in a very critical moment for the country We have to be pragmatic about our politics find good ideas from across the political spectrum where it makes sense “My commitment is beyond partisan affiliation and that’ll be the mentality I try to take to Ottawa.” There were several youth present at the election watch party for Blois He spent between four and six hours helping on Blois’ election campaign “I knocked on doors; I talked to people door-to-door and I helped in the office by putting stickers on pamphlets,” Ever said after Blois shook his hand and thanked him I support them so I wanted to help out with that.” Blois thanked everyone who took time to vote in this election “We’re very fortunate and we should not take it for granted that we have the ability to do this in this country,” said Blois “It’s part of the beauty of democracy and to everyone who got out and voted tonight thank you for being a part of a really proud moment for our country.” Steven Ford (People’s Party) – 1,945 (4.3%) Mark Parent (Conservatives) – 13,234 (29.4%) Sheila Richardson (Green Party) – 940 (2.1%) Martha MacQuarrie (Conservatives) – 11,905 (24.8%) Brogan Anderson (Green Party) – 6,029 (12.6%) Matthew Southall (People’s Party) – 786 (1.6%) Nicholas Tan (Rhinoceros Party) – 138 (0.3%) David Morse (Conservative) – 8,677 (18.6%) Megan Brown-Hodges (Rhinoceros) – 184 (0.4%) Clifford James Williams (Independent) – 100 (0.2%) Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried it: Filtrete Smart Tower and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Blois has represented the riding of Kings-Hants in Nova Scotia since 2019Canada has a new minister of agriculture and rural economic development received the appointment from new Prime Minister Mark Carney and was sworn in on March 14 Blois isn’t new to working on ag and rural issues in Ottawa He served as parliamentary secretary to both Ministers MacAulay and Hutchings and chaired the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Blois wasn’t shy about voting with opposition parties if the legislation made sense for farmers In a March 2023 vote on Bill C-234 a Conservative bill which would provide farmers with additional carbon tax exemptions Blois was one of three Liberals to vote in favour Blois also supported Bill C-282 which in its original form protects supply management in all future trade negotiations That October, Blois introduced Bill C-359 in the House of Commons which would speed up regulatory approvals for feeds It would provide 90-day “provisional registration or approval of feeds seeds and pest control products that are already approved by two or more trusted jurisdictions,” the bill says Multiple members of the Canadian ag sector supported the bill but it didn’t get past the first reading Members of Canada’s ag community are pleased to see Blois have the industry’s portfolio in Ottawa Sylvain Charlebois called it “one of the best appointments for the agriculture portfolio in years,” on X Multiple industry groups including the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council the executive director of Grain Growers of Canada welcomed Blois to the portfolio and are looking forward to working with the new minister Blois may not be the ag minister long before a federal election is called but political insiders expect Prime Minister Carney to send Canadians to the polls instead Courtesy of SOMFrom a young age, De Blois knew her destiny was to become an architect encouraged her passion for the built environment even helping her enroll in mechanical engineering classes during junior high typically reserved for male students as girls were expected to take homemaking courses but also saw firsthand the gender bias that would continue well into her professional career After attending Columbia and earning a degree in architecture she worked in New York City designing storefront components that would be later produced after World War II De Blois was let go from her role when a male colleague complained that a woman's presence was a distraction when she declined his advances an office just down the street on Park Avenue but it would be the tallest building voluntarily demolished in history It had also just been renovated to achieve LEED Platinum status only a few years prior already proving that it was energy efficient many pointed out that such a significant role of its oversight was completed by a woman of which so few existed in the industry at the time and must play a key factor in why it shouldn't meet its wrecking ball fate Women designers are still struggling to find their seats at the table so why discredit the ones where women have played such a key part De Blois eventually transferred to SOM's Chicago office, where she was a founding member of Chicago Women in Architecture and was subsequently appointed to the AIA Taskforce on Women in Architecture in 1974 She became well known in feminist architecture circles admired for her success at such a firm that was dominated by men even even though she was never made a full partner she spent a year traveling in Europe and returned to the U.S to join Neuhaus & Taylor in Houston where many other SOM alumni worked in the senior ranks and taught at the University of Texas Natalie De Blois was nearly invisible during her career but was later credited for many of her astonishing works and for transforming the world of corporate architecture While many projects proudly display the names of her male colleagues they feature her notable and extremely thoughtful design signature __________Originally published on October 11 You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email In the historic halls of the Royal Château de Blois in France’s Loire Valley, Melbourne-based art and technology studio ENESS unveils a mesmerizing installation exhibition titled Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness. Running until January 5th, this thought-provoking showcase blends art, technology and the grandeur of a centuries-old château to explore the intersections of humanity The exhibition features four distinct installations each weaving surreal imagery with compelling narratives about our relationship with artificial intelligence and its impact on human creativity and the environment As visitors traverse the Château’s storied grounds they encounter a series of arresting visual and auditory experiences designed to challenge perceptions and provoke deep reflection The journey begins at the Château’s grand entrance, where a forest of denuded, hot-pink trees makes an immediate statement about the environmental toll of AI’s expanding digital infrastructure These stark yet visually captivating sculptures offer a poignant commentary on the ecological cost of technological progress mountainous figures—referred to as acolytes—chant cryptic messages generated by the exhibition’s titular AI figure This fusion of the mystical and the technological creates a fascinating tension evoking questions about the blending of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge innovation An Immersive Experience in the Gaston d’Orleans Wing 10-meter-tall yogi that stretches from balcony to floor The serene figure invites participants to engage in a meditative journey through its expansive creating an interactive moment of reflection the chimes crescendo into a celebratory flourish adding an element of mystery and surprise to the contemplative experience Navigating the Labyrinth of the Digital Age The Salle des États offers the exhibition’s climactic experience—a labyrinth of blinking These vibrant creatures symbolize the confusion and disorientation of the digital age where information overload and algorithmic influence shape human decision-making At the heart of the maze lies the Modern Guru a fantastical AI figure that prints cryptic messages onto parchment This striking centerpiece draws parallels between the invention of the printing press which once revolutionized cultural narratives and the transformative potential of AI in reshaping creativity and communication The choice of the Château de Blois as the exhibition’s venue adds an extra layer of resonance to the experience this storied structure has been home to seven kings and ten queens serving as a witness to countless chapters of human creativity and ingenuity The juxtaposition of its historic grandeur with ENESS’s futuristic installations underscores the timeless dialogue between tradition and innovation Following its successful run at the Château de Blois Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness will embark on an international tour Each venue will undoubtedly bring a new dimension to this ever-evolving conversation about AI’s role in shaping our world as well as those curious about the societal implications of artificial intelligence this exhibition offers a unique blend of visual splendor Don’t miss the chance to experience this groundbreaking exhibition before it concludes its stay in France Plan your visit to the Royal Château de Blois and immerse yourself in a world where past and future collide in the most captivating ways For more details on the exhibition and its international tour Input your search keywords and press Enter Kody Blois is replacing longtime MP Lawerence MacAulay leaving many wondering what the future might hold for the ag sector Host of RealAg Radio Shaun Haney spoke with RFD-TV’s Jeniffer Vickery Smith about Blois’s background and what to expect All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Ad Choices. Do Not Sell My Personal Information a tech-driven global travel distribution company has appointed Florian Blois as its director of strategic partnerships as well as tour and activity providers to drive business growth through strategic collaborations and innovative marketing initiatives Blois will work to develop and execute personalised marketing and sales strategies that further elevate Dida’s partners across its global platforms and distribution channels he was the senior regional manager – destination development & marketing at HBX Group (formerly Hotelbeds) where he managed global partnerships and led strategic marketing campaigns for DMOs across EMEA and Asia-Pacific Seafront stays and heritage charm at Penang Marriott Hotel Is Your Business Listed On TTGmice Planner Online I first wrote about golf professional Matt Blois in 2020 The Canadian’s driving skills had become a YouTube must-see in dozens of videos for Tour Golf Experience the club-fitting company owned by Ian Fraser By the time I met them again at the 2023 PGA Show Fraser had expanded to more locations in Canada Fraser also agreed to be Club Champion’s presence throughout Canada as discussed in our wide-ranging interview at the 2024 PGA Show “There was certainly nothing wrong with the scenario presented to me to stay – [they] offered me a contract for a year “I decided that if I wasn’t going to do something on my own then He also decided not to choose between fitting or coaching “I felt there was a marketplace for people that want to improve but find the traditional routes of that to be one-dimensional There’s no shortage of places to go for a very good fitting There’s a ton of extremely good teaching and coaching professionals but they are not independent of each other I developed my own personal opinion – that is “I thought about a concept for a studio where if someone just walked in the door and they had time with me and we just took the session in whatever direction it needs to go.”  if a customer came in thinking about replacing wedges a short session might suggest working on technique as a better first use of their time and money “Once I decided this is a place people would want to go I wanted to make this happen as quickly as possible,” Blois said That decision led to the next big step – location especially with commercial property in Toronto in rare supply and inventory and storage for club fitting Blois is especially proud of his camera installation “I think probably the best money I spent money is high-speed cameras As soon as you hit a shot on Foresight GC Quad I see the exact same swing and all the data side by side,” he said The videos speed up analysis and coaching: “Awareness is gained by someone seeing properly not seeing a rough little iPhone video but like a proper capture I know exactly where they struck the ball on that swing including “all the major ones,” as well as Haywood a Canadian manufacturer that sells direct-to-consumer Blois also added aftermarket shaft makers including Fujikura and Graphite Design Blois knows his customers’ price sensitivity: “You don’t have to be in the thousands of dollars to buy a good driver There’s stuff that is better in the aftermarket world stock shaft options have gotten a lot better also $700 to $800 is what I have to spend on this please stay within that,’ and it's no problem.” Blois is pleased with his growing business since the soft opening of golfliberty.com “It’s nice to see my philosophy developing into a pretty good business plan,” he said “Having somebody come in because they trust you and they want to see you regularly for coaching and equipment is always going to be mixed in there anyway it’s turning out to be a sustainable model.”  “Sometimes someone will send me a note or a review Is this really something that somebody wants what I’m hearing from people is that they’re enjoying a place where they can go,” he said The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies League played a Low Gross/Low Net game Sept Diane Braver won first gross in the first division with Karen Feuchtenberger in second and Maxine Ansbach in third York won first gross in the second division with Stevie Scales in second place and Donna Dolce in third Joanne Foster won first net in the first division followed by Tammy Findlay in second and Sue Brady in third Kathy Marks won first net in the second division with Rita McConnell in second place and Jackie Chennuta in third Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com News 2025 – 1340 CST — Kody Blois will take over the role of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development in Mark Carney’s cabinet Carney and his cabinet were sworn in today who represents the constituency of Kings-Hants in Nova Scotia will inherit the role from veteran agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay who announced his retirement from the position in early March Grain and oilseed millers are predicted to see sales volumes and margins decline in 2025 according to Farm Credit Canada’s food and beverage report having previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and served on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture a private members bill that proposed to exempt from the price on carbon propane and natural gas for farm uses like grain drying and barn heating He also acted as Chair of the Atlantic caucus where he advocated for higher carbon tax rebates for rural residents and sponsored the 2023 Bill C-359 which would have allowed for provisional registration or approval of feeds seeds and pest control products if already approved by two or more “trusted jurisdictions.” Blois’ tenure could be short as Parliament is expected to head into an election within a matter of weeks Newsletter Sign Up - Receive free Western Producer newsletters Breaking ag news stories and commodities markets snapshots delivered daily right to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Jonah Grignon is a reporter with GFM based in Ottawa where he covers federal politics in agriculture Jonah graduated from Carleton University’s school of journalism in 2024 and started working full-time with GFM in Fall 2024 Jonah has written for publications like The Hill Times He has also created podcasts for Carleton’s student newspaper The Charlatan Canada’s History and Farm Radio International in Ghana Canterra buys pedigreed seed firm Alliance Seed Parrish & Heimbecker acquires bulk marine export terminal in Quebec City Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2025 Western Producer Publications Limited Partnership "(Required)" indicates required fields Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" He’s outlined his vision for AAFC and met with members of the ag sectorKody Blois isn’t wasting any time as Canada’s new federal minister of agriculture and rural development Since being sworn in as part of Prime Minister Carney’s cabinet on March 14 Blois has kept Canadians up to speed about his vision for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency On March 18, he sent a letter to staff at AAFC outlining his approach to keeping Canada’s agriculture and food industry competitive His letter highlighted four ways the CFIA can help support this work This includes speeding up product approvals to provide farmers with alternatives to U.S.-sourced animal feed harmonizing Canada’s BSE enhanced feed ban with U.S looking at regulatory changes to level the playing field for Canadian farmers and removing outdates prescriptive requirements and supporting innovation put a competitive lens on every decision I make and work hard to diversify our trade,” Blois said on X on March 18 In response to the minister’s letter, Tyler McCann, the managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, said on X that Blois is bringing a different approach than what Canadians have seen in the past “The biggest impact may be the signal sent to the bureaucracy that the old way of doing things is over This should have ripple effects,” he said in a post “Caretaker convention will prevent changes from happening quickly but it is positive the work is starting now.” Providing faster approvals for farmers is an issue Blois worked on in the past In October 2023, he introduced Bill C-359 which would provide 90-day “provisional registration or approval of feeds seeds and pest control products that are already approved by two or more trusted jurisdictions.” Minister Blois also held meetings with members of Canada’s ag industry on Tuesday He spoke with reps from Dairy Farmers of Canada about supply management The system “plays a crucial role in maintaining our food sovereignty and ensuring a stable secure food supply for all Canadians,” he said on X Blois may only have a few days left as ag minister before Canadians are thrust into a federal election campaign Parliament is scheduled to resume on March 24 but political commentators expect Prime Minister Carney to call an election before that date The event will take place April 17 at 5pm ETIt’s debate week in Canadian politics and the country’s ag sector will have the opportunity to hear from leaders with experience on industry files Among the topic leaders will discuss are risk management Kody Blois – Liberal Party of CanadaMark Carney appointed Blois as minister of agriculture and rural economic development in his cabinet prior to the election call In the days leading to the writ drop, Blois kept Canadians up to speed about his vision for AAFC how the CFIA can support the ministry’s work Blois has represented Kings-Hands in Nova Scotia since 2019 John Barlow – Conservative Party of CanadaBarlow who has represented the Alberta riding of Foothills since 2015 has been the party’s agriculture critic since 2019 During the last session of Parliament, he introduced Bill C-275 to make it an offence for a person to enter a livestock operation without permission The bill passed the report stage in the Senate in December 2024 but did not make it to third reading Heather Ray – NDPRay is the NDP’s candidate in Peterborough She is a fifth-generation farmer raising sheep, an introductory letter says Ray co-owns Oakn’LiefFarm, and from November 2022 to December 2023 was the executive director of Farms At Work She has a master’s degree in international public policy and a bachelor’s degree in environmental resource studies She also has a diploma in environmental impact assessment and a minor in legal studies in criminology Yves Perron – Bloc QuebecoisRepresenting the Quebec riding of Berthier-Maskinongé since 2019 agri-food and supply management since 2021 During the last session of Parliament, Perron pressured the government to pass Bill C-282 in its original form to protect supply management in all trade deals Amendments called for supply management to only be protected in new trade agreements The bill didn’t receive royal assent which establishes a deemed trust mechanism for fresh produce growers and sellers Maria Rodriguez – Green Party of CanadaDr riding held by longtime MP and retiring minister of agriculture Lawrence MacAulay She worked in AAFC’s crops and livestock research centre in Charlottetown and has multiple years of experience in ag “Over the years, she has had the unique opportunity to examine food systems from multiple perspectives: as a farmer, advocate, teacher, researcher, regulator, policy analyst, specialist in international trade and bilateral relations, and manager of research and innovation,” her party bio says This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page News Kody Blois arrives for a caucus meeting in Ottawa on March 10 [UPDATED] New federal Agriculture Minister Kody Blois says he’s taking steps to cut red tape from the Canadian agri-food sector in a bid to increase competitiveness and reduce costs for producers “We know that is a crucial time right now for Canadian farmers and we have to be doing everything in our control to reduce costs,” Blois said in a video posted on X “The Prime Minister has been clear: we have to focus on what we can do at home to be able to control our economic future,” he added volumes and margins decline in 2025 according to Farm Credit Canada’s food and beverage report Blois announced that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would take measures to remove unnecessary regulatory burdens These included speeding product approvals to provide alternatives to U.S.-sourced animal feed The move was touted to alleviate tariff pressures on feed producers by making more feed ingredients available in Canada or from other countries Blois said the CFIA will address “stakeholder irritants” through regulatory changes Canada will explore increasing the maximum slaughter age for feeder cattle to 40 weeks from 36 This change would update rules related to veal production must be kept in a quarantine barn facility they must be slaughtered regardless of if they have been properly finished executive director of Veal Farmers of Ontario “The maximum slaughter age is in place as a risk mitigation because they are intact males and ensuring that they do not move to other feeding facilities and have the potential to reproduce,” said Haley with the quarantine process requiring a terminal direct to slaughter route the age is irrelevant and the risk to the industry is no different than it was before.” the maximum carcass weight for veal calves was increased but maximum age wasn’t changed so producers were forced to send underweight calves slaughter the (Canadian Veal Association) has been lobbying AAFC and CFIA to make this change to coincide with the feeding practices to no avail,” Haley said “The Canadian Veal Association is thrilled that Minister Blois has signalled his intention to finally get this updated completed to benefit the Canadian veal sector It has been a long time coming and it is an encouraging sign that Minister Blois is prepared to work with industry to allow us to be more competitive in these challenging times,” she added The CFIA will also aim to harmonize Canada’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) enhanced feed ban with U.S puts the Canadian beef sector at a competitive disadvantage compared to the U.S Canada’s ban requires certain animal tissues defined as “specified risk material” (SRM) from the animal feed and human food supply “Removing specified risk materials (SRM) is costly and puts Canada’s beef industry at an economic disadvantage because of the differences between Canadian and American SRM requirements,” said Canadian Cattle Association president Nathan Phinney in an email “The differential cost of the more stringent SRM removal and disposal regulations in Canada is estimated to be from CAD$32 to $62 per metric tonne depending on the size of the establishment,” he said “The costs of the Canadian SRM regulations place a significant burden on our industry costing approximately $31.7 million annually.” Harmonizing Canadian testing requirements for salmonella at hatcheries with U.S Blois said “outdated prescriptive requirements” would be removed regarding labeling requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables The CFIA will also continue to work on modernizing fruit and vegetable grades managing director of the Canadian Agricultural Policy Institute (CAPI) said in a post on X that the statement appears to signal a commitment to action “It makes competitiveness a priority,” he wrote but decisions made competitiveness worse and irritants were left in place.” the feed ban changes should have been made a while ago “The biggest impact may be the signal sent to the bureaucracy that the old way of doing things is over This should have ripple effects,” he added McCann said the change in leadership “shows promise,” but said he expects many in Canadian agriculture will have a hard time “forgetting some of the recent challenges.” Newsletter Sign Up - Receive daily Ontario farm and production news You’ll also receive industry insight on why it matters delivered right to your inbox Geralyn graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2019 and launched directly into agricultural journalism with the Manitoba Co-operator colourful reporting has earned awards such as the Dick Beamish award for current affairs feature writing and a Canadian Online Publishing Award and in 2023 she represented Canada in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Alltech Young Leaders Program Geralyn is a co-host of the Armchair Anabaptist podcast May contract talks alarm sugar beet growers Bunge’s merger with Viterra stalled by US-China trade tensions Industry believes green pea supplies are over-reported Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2025 Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development Represents the riding of Kings—Hants The Honourable Kody Blois was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Kings—Hants in 2019 Minister Blois has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency He has also served on various parliamentary committees including the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food he is a member of the Executive of the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association and of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Minister Blois is a proud advocate for rural Canada and has consistently championed policies in Parliament that positively impact rural communities across the country A firm believer in the importance of hard work he welcomes the opportunity to serve in a role dedicated to rural economic growth across the country including in his home region of Atlantic Canada Minister Blois practised as a lawyer and was heavily involved in sport As a former competitive hockey player at the collegiate level he has actively given back to his community by coaching minor hockey and softball and by establishing the East Hants Sport Heritage Society and the Come Home East Hants Association Minister Blois takes pride in being the first member of his family to obtain a university degree He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University as well as a Master of Management in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor In a ceremony held at Rideau Hall and presided over by Governor General Mary Simon was sworn in alongside members of the 30th Canadian Ministry all aimed at addressing the key issues facing Canadians today Among the notable appointments is Kody Blois who has been named Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development Blois takes over the position from former Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Blois is expected to bring innovative ideas and a fresh perspective to the role focusing on strengthening Canada’s agricultural sector and supporting rural communities Prime Minister Carney underscored the critical role of this newly assembled team “This team is build for immediate action and focused on protecting Canadian workers so our government can deliver to Canadians faster — and we have an experienced team that is made to meet the moment we are in and we are getting right to work,” says Prime Minister Carney The new Cabinet also includes key figures such as Dominic LeBlanc as Minister of International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Mélanie Joly as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development and François-Philippe Champagne as Minister of Finance.  Many Liberal supporters from across the country woke up Monday morning with a sense of exhilaration in the wake of Mark Carney’s landslide leadership victory “A significant and decisive win,” Kody Blois said Monday morning in a telephone interview from Ottawa the result was around the mid-70s (per cent) in terms of support,” said Blois who has represented the central mainland Nova Scotia riding since 2019 and serves as chairman of the Atlantic Liberal caucus “For Mark Carney to have 86 per cent of the vote across the country shows the fact that he’s got support from every part of the country and it was a very strong mandate that Liberals have sent and given him to lead our party into the next election.” Carney actually gained 85.9 per cent of the 151,899 Liberal membership votes cast easily defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland who placed second in the four-person field with eight per cent of the vote Carney logged a range of 86.8 per cent to 94.1 per cent of membership votes across the 11 Nova Scotia ridings topping 94 per cent in the Blois riding of Kings-Hants Carney won’t have much time to savour the decisive win The federal Liberal caucus had intended to meet in Ottawa on Monday in a run-up to an anticipated visit by the current prime minister with Gov Mary Simon in the next couple of days to tender his resignation which automatically results in the cabinet being dissolved Carney then would be asked to become prime minister and presumably be sworn in by week’s end with naming a cabinet being his first act as prime minister Blois said he wouldn’t guess who might serve in that cabinet or about who or how many Atlantic Canadian or Nova Scotia Liberals would be appointed by the new prime minister Next up after Parliament sits again would likely be a federal election “Whether or not he feels there is a pathway in Parliament to be able to get some things done that will be up to Mark Carney,” Blois said “If the opposition parties don’t change their tune certainly we’ll be into an election by the basis of them voting non-confidence in a potential speech from the throne he could go to the governor general at that point.” Despite projection polls as of Sunday from 338 Canada that put the Conservatives under leader Pierre Poilievre in a position to win 156 seats in the next election as compared with 143 for the Liberals “What I’m feeling in Kings-Hants is reflective of what we’re feeling across the region in Atlantic Canada and perhaps across the country which is there is a real momentum for Mark Carney and for the Liberal party,” Blois said “Right now we’re in a very pivotal moment for the country and I think the ballot box question is who is going to be the most trusted set of hands on the tiller for Canada Mark Carney brings a tremendous amount and a wealth of experience being the governor of two central banks in the G7 a whole host of private sector experience in business his economic and fiscal credentials are unmatched and I think he’s the mature leader that we need in this country right now “He highlighted (Sunday) that we have to focus on our economic prosperity in this country we have to focus on what we can control as a country and I think his message has been spot on.” Blois said Carney will be a formidable choice for the party and for Canadians “I think people will want to see Mark Carney as leader to get us through what could be a difficult period for the country dealing with the Trump administration that is much different than past U.S 1 issue on the minds of all Canadians is the rhetoric that we’ve heard from President Trump whether it’s around the concept that he keeps pushing of the 51st state or obviously the economic threats of his tariffs Right now that is front and centre in the minds of every Canadian and I think Mark Carney represents a mature leadership someone who has experience in these global macro-economic challenges and someone who has the requisite skill set to be able to serve the country in a very difficult moment.” Blois said he has been making calls to riding constituents and has heard from people who say they voted Conservative most of their lives but think Carney is the best person for the job of prime minister “There is real interest from small-C conservative types who see Mark Carney as a fiscally responsible leader with social progressive values,” Blois said “My invitation as the member of Parliament for Kings Hants to those who identify as Progressive Conservatives is I think a Liberal party under Mark Carney is a better fit for people who hold those values than Mr Poilievre who resembles more of the Reform style of conservatism and less so of the progressive style of conservatism that we’re used to in the Maritimes.” The latest projection polls from 338 Canada did not hold a positive message for Liberals in Nova Scotia and across the Atlantic region polling showed the Conservatives likely to win eight of the 11 seats and 25 of 32 across the Atlantic region the Liberals hold seven seats in Nova Scotia the Conservatives three and the Halifax seat is vacant Blois said there is a lot of work to be done before voters go to the polls but feels he has gained a head start by leaning on the  advice of former Kings-Hants MP and Trudeau cabinet minister Scott Brison “Scott Brison told me in 2019 the next campaign starts the day after you’re re-elected,” Blois said “Your body of work as a member of Parliament is always important and I’m proud of the work that I’ve done over nearly six years as the MP but the campaign for 2025 started the day after the 2021 election it’s part of the work in a Parliamentary sense of keeping a close eye on what the issues are so you can be an effective advocate but the thing is yes we have a sense of what the mood in the riding is No one here is putting the proverbial cart ahead of the horse.” Blois said the first piece of work is “the governance of the country in an uncertain time but also if we are going to head into a federal election we have to do the work necessary to try to earn the trust of Canadians again “We took a really important step (Sunday) as a party to do just that with the mandate that Mark Carney was given and I think under his leadership we have an opportunity to present the best vision and the best mature leadership for the country at a time we need it.” [UPDATED] Glacier FarmMedia — Kody Blois will take over the role of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development in Mark Carney’s cabinet Blois was one of the few Liberal MPs who supported Bill C-234 The Liberal party won 10 of 11 Nova Scotia ridings in Monday’s federal election en route to earning a minority government with 168 of the 343 available seats It is the fourth consecutive term for a Liberal government adding to the 120 they held at the dissolution of Parliament who had served as the Atlantic Liberal caucus chairman and was named agriculture minister in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s interim cabinet in March along with former Trudeau cabinet minister Sean Fraser Blois won his Kings-Hants seat by more than 15,000 votes over Joel Hirtle of the Conservatives “The results are still coming in and it’s good to see that Sean has flipped the results so far in Central Nova,” Blois said from his election night watch party at the Old Orchard Inn in Wolfville Ridge a cabinet minister in the Trudeau government overcame an early deficit to hang on for victory in the Central Nova riding Fraser eventually won by more than 4,000 votes over Brycen Jenkins of the Conservatives Prime Minister Mark Carney won his seat in the Ottawa riding of Napean but both Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh lost their respective ridings of Carleton in the Ottawa district and Burnaby a U.S.-born lawyer who spent her formative years growing up in Margaree Harbour in Cape Breton will return to the House as the only member of the Green party May will serve a fifth term representing Saanich-Gulf Islands in British Columbia lost his seat in the Montreal riding of Outremont Blois won the Kings-Hants seat in 2019 and 2021 a riding that was held by Liberal Scott Brison for 16 years prior to Blois’s election a former housing and immigration minister in the Trudeau government stepped away from politics for family reasons early this year but decided to throw his hat in the ring again after the March election call held for nearly two decades by former Harper Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacKay Liberal Jaime Battiste beat out Conservative Allan MacMaster a former Progressive Conservative MLA for Inverness and a finance minister in the provincial PC government in the reconfigured seat of Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish Battiste had won the Sydney-Victoria seat in 2019 and 2021 MacMaster said he is leaving politics with his integrity intact “There are other things in life besides politics and let me tell ya I’m probably going to find that out,” MacMaster said I would say we had a lot of young people voting for us I think the future of the Conservative party is bright because the young people want real change and I hope some day they get it Darren Fisher scored a lopsided 17,000-plus vote victory over Conservative Isabelle Obeid in the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour riding marking his fourth consecutive election victory finishing the night more than 10,000 votes up on Conservative Rob Batherson in her bid to retain the Halifax West seat a newcomer to federal politics and the former climate change director for Halifax Regional Municipality won the Halifax riding with a comfortable 15,000-plus vote victory over Conservative Mark Boudreau The Halifax riding had been held by HRM Mayor Andy Fillmore who left the seat vacant in July 2024 to pursue the mayor’s chair narrowly beating Lisa Roberts of the NDP in 2021 Indicative of the NDP fall across the country who won the Cape Breton-Canso riding for the Liberals in 2021 and 2019 cruised to victory over Conservative Anna Manley in the Sydney-Glace Bay riding and Braedon Clark won the Sackville-Bedford-Preston riding over musician Dave Carroll A surprise Liberal victory was Jessica Fancy-Landry who held on to edge out Conservative incumbent Rick Perkins in the South Shore-St very proud of our candidate Jessica Fancy-Landry,” Blois said Liberal Alana Hirtle scored another upset victory in the Cumberland-Colchester riding winning 48 per cent of the vote to defeat Conservative incumbent Stephen Ellis Conservative Chris d’Entremont was successful In Acadie-Annapolis beating Liberal Ronnie LeBlanc to hold his seat and break the Liberal grip on the entire province The Liberals won 25 of the 32 seats in Atlantic Canada “I think we held our ground well in Atlantic Canada,” Blois said “I’m proud of our candidates across this province,” Blois said it was a successful night for the Liberal party especially when you consider that three or four months ago pundits had us in the graveyard of political parties The Liberal party won all 11 Nova Scotia seats en route to an Atlantic Canadian sweep in the 2015 federal election and a Liberal majority government under Justin Trudeau’s leadership The party retained 10 Nova Scotia seats and 26 of 32 Atlantic seats in the 2019 vote the Liberals took eight of 11 seats in Nova Scotia and 24 of 32 in the Atlantic region The configuration of Parliament at dissolution had the Liberals with 152 seats There were three independents and four vacant seats “We’re in a very critical moment for the country and so I think regardless of what’s going to happen tonight we have to get back to the business of governing tackling the challenge that is presented us in the face of the Trump tariffs but also driving the domestic policy agenda that the prime minister has laid out which is having the strongest economy in the G7 building homes that Canadians need at a price they can afford and certainly in our Canadian Armed Forces while protecting the social programs that I think we should all be proud of that have been introduced,” Blois said Blois said he’s sure Carney will want to hit the ground running and said it was too early to consider a potential role in a permanent Carney cabinet “My focus tonight is on the good people of Kings-Hants I couldn’t be prouder that I’m going to have the opportunity to go back to Parliament and be their voice in Ottawa Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by 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Blois with tailor-made creations specially designed for Blois Heritage and contemporary art enter in dialogue to sublimate the space and to tell a whole new story Installation awarded International Exhibition of the Year 2024 by Frame magazine The Pass (link in french) is free and can be requested by all residents of Blois It allows free and unlimited access to all the cultural structures of the City (Royal Castle Up to 4 people accompanying a person with the Pass can also benefit from reduced rates Explore the different spaces inside the Castle: Every part of this installation can be touched This monumental labyrinth of fireflies is a metaphor for the challenges we face in the digital age making everyone think about the way to happiness His mouth prints messages generated by artificial intelligence contrasting with the printing press with the advent of AI the first technology capable of writing its own history The yoga instructor has taken over the Gaston d’Orléans wing and its spectacular vestibule He is perhaps the most human figure in the installation the one who can use his body and perform postures when artificial intelligence may never be able to Sleeping and luminous mountains inhabit the gardens of the Foix terrace not far from the tower that keeps watch in the background echoes of the Modern Guru that you will discover in the Great hall this colourful forest contrasts brilliantly with the architecture of the château The installation of tangled trees raises questions about environmental degradation and the energy consumed by artificial intelligence The choice of pink is a nod to artificial intelligence which can choose colours that are far removed from reality Eness is an internationally recognized and multiple award-winning art and technology studio writer…) explores virtual and physical worlds with interactive creations which take various forms (permanent sculptures The studio exhibits for the 3rd time in France after Paris (Balloon museum 2022) and Châteaugiron (2023) joyful and avantgardist experiences for museums and public spaces allows us to imagine installations adapted to every space where our contemporary works dialogue with the exceptional heritage from the Loire valley as sometimes can be technology in our lives but hopefully we can help you find what you're looking for In a significant reshuffle of the parliamentary secretary team Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced several new appointments aimed at bolstering the government’s efforts on key priorities Kody Blois has been named the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food as well as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency elected in 2019 to represent the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants has been the chair of the House of Commons agriculture committee since 2021 who has decided not to run in the upcoming federal election Blois will support the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in advancing policies and initiatives that are crucial to Canada’s agriculture sector and rural communities to ensure their voices are heard and their needs addressed Blois joins a team of newly appointed parliamentary secretaries These appointments are effective immediately The new parliamentary secretaries will work closely with their respective ministers to drive progress on key initiatives and represent the government both domestically and internationally Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is the right person to lead the Liberals into the next federal election Mark Carney represents the best agent of change,” Blois said and he brings an absolute tremendous resumé with him.” 6 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation It ended weeks of Liberals calling for him to step down as his popularity plummeted sinking the party in the polls with an election looming 23 letter to Trudeau as chairperson of the Liberal’s Atlantic caucus 23 to file their nomination papers to enter the race to replace Trudeau While the party hasn’t announced the candidates two of the favourites appear to be Carney and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland Sydney-Victoria’s Jaime Battiste has also announced he’s running Central Nova MP Sean Fraser also recently endorsed Carney as have cabinet ministers like Mélanie Joly François-Philippe Champagne and Steven Guilbeault The new leader will be elected by the party’s membership March 9 said the party has a lot of people with strong backgrounds and acumen But he believes Carney is the right person to lead the country given his understanding of financial management relations and the need to grow the economy “He’s managed difficult economic situations before and that experience would be absolutely vital at this stage.” grew up in Edmonton and was a backup goalie for the Harvard Crimson Tide served as governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and the head of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020 Blois said Carney jumping into the race has brought excitement back to the party in the riding he represents and many others across the country 27 to register to vote in the Liberal leadership race Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience explore the most beautiful châteaux in the Loire Valley along with its best restaurants and hotels The enchanting châteaux of the Loire Valley are one of the world's unique phenomena the concentration of remarkable monuments in this region was one of the reasons why the Loire Valley was included on UNESCO's World Heritage List it's impossible to visit all 3,000 or so châteaux in a weekend; which is why we've put together an itinerary that brings together what all within one handy itinerary.If you're a keen cyclist then the good news is that these stops are along the "Loire by Bike" route that follows the Loire river for about two-thirds of its length "Loire by Bike" runs along the western section of "Eurovélo 6" the major European cycle route linking the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean Most of the stages are open to the general public signposted cycle paths.And because it would be impossible to talk about the Loire without mentioning its vineyards we've also included a number of unmissable estates producing excellent wines BloisAncienne chocolaterie Poulain (usine de la Villette BloisCathédrale Saint-Louis: Place Saint-Louis 41000 BloisEglise Saint-Nicolas: Rue Saint-Laumer 41000 BloisEscalier Denis Papin: 17 Rue Haute 41000 BloisFontaine de la place Louis XII: 3 Pl Spa et Restaurants Fleur de Loire (Christophe Hay): 26 Quai Villebois Mareuil 41000 BloisJardins de l’Evêché: 3 Ter Rue du Haut Bourg 41000 Blois (accolés à l’Hôtel de Ville)ChambordChâteau et parc de Chambord : Domaine national de Chambord 41250 ChambordDomaine Marionnet Henry - Domaine de la Charmoise : La Charmoise 41230 Soings-en-SologneCheverny et Chaumont-sur-LoireChâteau de Chaumont-sur-Loire : 41150 Chaumont-sur-LoireChâteau de Cheverny : Av 41700 ChevernyDomaine de Montcy : 22 Rte de Cheverny 41120 CormerayDomaine des Huards : 30 VC des Huards Hero Image: Le Château de Chambord (© Dorian Mongel / Unsplash) From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare Update your must-visit list with The MICHELIN Guide’s new London restaurants Explore MICHELIN-selected island escapes in Jeju and Ulleungdo and local flavor combine for an unforgettable getaway Hong Kong’s nightlife scene is globally renowned Be sure to visit these MICHELIN-recommended hotel bars during your next visit Sustainable by nature — Chef Kim Ji-hye's ever-evolving kombucha connects farm Spend the May bank holiday weekends relaxing in the best London parks followed by top-notch cuisine at MICHELIN Guide restaurants – and if you’re visiting from afar Discover which dishes our MICHELIN inspectors loved in this year’s selection Get away from the big city with these day-long excursions to some of the UK's top destinations and stop around town with design top of mind The White Lotus actor shares his insider’s guide to Bangkok revealing the energy and allure of his ‘own backyard’ the chef and restaurateur behind MICHELIN-Starred Row on 5 and a whole lot more shares his top London recommendations Make the most of seasonal shows and beautiful blooms with our rundown of the best things to do in London this spring geometric accommodations get you right up against the wilderness The MICHELIN Guide presents its 16th restaurant selection for Kyoto and Osaka recommending an unprecedented number of 469 restaurants Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial The enchanting ch\u00e2teaux of the Loire Valley are one of the world's unique phenomena it's impossible to visit all 3,000 or so ch\u00e2teaux in a weekend; which is why we've put together an itinerary that brings together what then the good news is that these stops are along the \"Loire by Bike\" route that follows the Loire river for about two-thirds of its length \"Loire by Bike\" runs along the western section of \"Eurov\u00e9lo 6\" Hero Image: Le Cha\u0302teau de Chambord (\u00a9 Dorian Mongel / Unsplash) Minnesota’s governor has become more liberal — and more defensive Opinion editor’s note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes a mix of national and local commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here In the nine days since Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race Tim Walz has escalated from his own team’s self-described “second tier” to leading his own parade to win the nomination local labor leaders are sending letters and the governor isn’t talking much to local press The possibility that Walz is Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick is as real as the Minnesota Vikings winning when they go into the NFC Championship Having closely observed and known Minnesota’s governors since the 1990s and having known Walz since 2006 I think his evolution as a politician is worth tracking and that it’s worth asking: “Is he ready?” It would be easy to replay the good days and bad days of the Walz governorship — but it is the threads of trends that highlight his leadership style across the last six years that illustrate what kind of national candidate he will be The policy transformation from moderate congressman to liberal governor is also something worth noting — as it may indicate his interest in being more popular than principled Leadership style and political gifts and liabilities are really what the VP selection process is about but for Walz after 2018 and into 2020 as people became more divided — and criticism became prominent — he spent more time with those who like him than with those who criticize him When Walz is defensive is when his political skills falter holding court at a tightly scripted news conference how he responds or might perform in the vice presidential debate is a legitimate question The loudest critics of Walz would list and analyze his worst moments as governor but its more illustrative to see how he handled them or how his leadership and relationships match up with his aspirational “One Minnesota” mantra From Feeding our Future to the riots of 2020 to other smaller issues Walz rarely faces tough questions when his administration is under fire The details the public expects and deserves don’t ever get released and as a congressman from greater Minnesota who used to wear an NRA hat he’s either evolved for political expediency or survival within the DFL and he missed an opportunity to unite the state moderate DFLers are tough to find in the same spirit as Walz when he represented the First District Walz stock rose and was a wise choice for the party to elect in 2018 as governor Take Action and other far-left groups were not pleased with Walz in his first term So much so that in 2022 when some DFL delegates jeered him at the state convention A more astute politician would have used it as a chance to try to differentiate himself from the fringe — however he seemingly told the far left “yes” to everything it wanted Walz has given in to the left — which gives him credibility with the Democratic base Those policies are at the core of why Walz stock has risen nationally Disheartened and scared of a second Trump term Just as President Joe Biden was killing energy for the party it puts him in the conversation for 2028 — something his team was trying to figure out just a few months ago the more his team has wrapped him in bubble wrap the less prepared he has been made for the national stage the setbacks he’s had haven’t thrown him off as they might have for governors in previous generations Walz misspeaks at tough moments. He misspoke on Feeding our Future, on Supreme Court news, and a few weeks ago so much so that national reporter Nate Silver said Walz was lying about the DNC process — while his team said he misspoke. The thing that Walz may do is just talk too fast, without thinking — rather than be thoughtful, without embellishment. Compared with gaffes like Biden’s over the years, Walz’s trip-ups are easily passed by in modern news coverage. After all, former President Donald Trump has proven that you can unfortunately say anything, and it doesn’t cost you politically the way it would have 12 to 16 years ago. Walz is pushing the Democratic version of this, and people are eating it up. Walz may do well on cable TV — but how will he do with a constant traveling national press corps — who ask follow-up questions? In Minnesota he doesn’t take tough questions or critiques well. He’s refused multiple requests for long-form interviews. Just two weeks ago, the Star Tribune documented that his administration wants to be more friendly to social-service groups (part of the DFL coalition) than to hold them accountable. Accountability is something that he has avoided when things in state government haven’t gone smoothly. Even an interview with the seemingly friendly Minnesota Reformer on Feeding our Future went sideways when he “misspoke.” On Sunday, CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed him for his criticism of Rep. Dean Phillips — Walz avoided acknowledging he called it a sideshow. Like many things he says one day, he won’t acknowledge later. That’s the Walz playbook — dismiss it. It works, and is a modern political talent that leaves critics frustrated. The final Tapper question Sunday was whether Walz would be interested or serve as Harris’ VP — Walz avoided a “yes or no” answer. Walz then said, “I usually do direct answer.” No, Jake, and the rest of the nation — Walz doesn’t answer directly, which could be his biggest asset and liability as a VP nominee in 2024. That seemingly makes him ready for the job, especially since he’s no longer a moderate. Blois Olson is CEO of Fluence Media and Fluence Advisory. He publishes morning take and is the political analyst and host at WCCO Radio. Commentaries The gender gap in ideology is prematurely wide state leaders will wring their hands over a collapse they engineered No other government entity in Minnesota enjoys near-total control over public access to its data Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois was sworn in Friday as agriculture minister in the Mark Carney government at Rideau Hall in Ottawa Blois is one of 24 ministers in the new and likely transitional Carney cabinet including the newly sworn in prime minister who stepped down as prime minister and Liberal leader by visiting Gov a 34-year-old lawyer who grew up in the rural community of Belnan was first elected in Kings-Hants in 2019 and re-elected in 2021 He had been serving as the chair of the Atlantic Liberal caucus Key returning ministers from the Trudeau cabinet include New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc in the international trade and intergovernmental affairs ministry Melanie Joly as foreign affairs and international development minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in the finance portfolio Jonathan Wilkinson as energy and natural resources and Chrystia Freeland the former finance minister and a challenger for the Liberal leadership in the transport and internal trade ministry Seventeen of the 24 ministers sworn in were part of the Trudeau cabinet Carney was endorsed by Blois for the Liberal leadership and won the race to take over from Trudeau as Liberal leader in a landslide Sunday Blois did not reveal any likelihood of his inclusion in Carney’s cabinet “I think the Number 1 issue on the minds of all Canadians is the rhetoric that we’ve heard from President Trump someone who has experience in these global marco-economic challenges and someone who has the requisite skill set to be able to serve the country in a very difficult moment.” was scheduled to reconvene on March 24 but it is likely that Carney could call an election before that date probably leading to an election on April 28 or May 5 the Liberals and the Conservatives would each log 37 per cent of the vote The Conservative Party of Canada has decreased by six points compared to the previous week while the Liberals increased by seven points want a change of government for the next federal election while 29 per cent want the current team to continue and form the next government would like the election to take place this spring “Right now we’re in a very pivotal moment for the country and I think the ballot box question is who is going to be the most trusted set of hands on the tiller for Canada,” Blois said Monday “Mark Carney brings a tremendous amount and a wealth of experience being the governor of two central banks in the G7 his economic and fiscal credentials are unmatched and I think he’s the mature leader that we need in this country right now.” More than $500,000 will be invested to improve active transportation in Kings County Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois announced $337,570 from the active transportation fund while County of Kings Mayor Dave Corkum said it was contributing $168,280 during a joint announcement Feb and community hubs,” Corkum said in a news release Signage designating bicycle routes throughout 62 km of shared roads in the region will be improved and three studies conducted increasing active transportation options and improving access to active transportation on the bridge connecting Kingston and Greenwood Blois said the funding will enable more people to walk safely to more destinations in their community “Providing active transportation options is one way the federal government is lowering our carbon footprint in communities across Canada.” Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application 1928 at Amherst Nebraska to the late Howard and Hattie (Wilson) Blois he was preceded in death by his granddaughter His family moved to Iowa in 1941 and graduated from Beebeetown High in 1946 He married Gladys Wohlers on June 27,1948 He served as West Pottawattamie Soil Commissioner and served as township trustee when North Pigeon Watershed was built He was a member of St.John's Lutheran Church of Honey Creek He and Gladys travelled for years with Niehart Travel of Braddyville throughout the US and Europe and her husband Phil Wing of Farragut; daughter and her husband Ted Derscheid of Ellston; daughter John Battern of Arnold's Park; sisters-in-law Howard Wood; 7 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren Viewing and visitation without family present will be at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home on Monday October 19 Memorial service will be private followed by inurnment in the Grange Cemetery Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Mark Smith and Mary Hanneman found themselves reflecting on those around them “It really resonates with me just … how impactful our region is and the number of resources and exceptional people that we have in our community.” Hanneman said she was humbled by the award and grateful to be asked to attend the ceremony “It just really emphasizes the importance of our communities and the people within them and the gifts they share that make our community so much richer.” “The name Mary Hanneman … is synonymous with words like giving Stage Prophets has grown from 16 youth putting on a production in a church basement in 2002 to a cast of more than 100 ranging in ages from one to 85 “We’re about building community,” she said “When people find ways to experience joy then they share joy.” Hanneman credited her upbringing for playing a crucial role in her giving back to the community “I came from a family where volunteering was more important than the actual paid work you did.” she got involved in coaching figure skating – something she did for 25 years mentor and a facilitator in informed trauma response,” Blois said “I think the average person would be really blown away by what they do for our communities and the toll that it takes on them,” Hanneman said of the volunteer firefighters She has worked with firefighters for 32 years and has watched the evolution where talking about the incidents is much more accepted than it was in the beginning “This is what we need to do to keep ourselves healthy.” There are 30,000 medals being presented to Canadians Blois noted it sounds like a large number but put it in perspective by noting the country’s population is about four million “That means 0.0075 per cent of Canadians receive this one,” he said Blois said it was not easy narrowing the list down to 20 recipients with so many deserving people in a riding that covers 5,000 square kilometres He spoke to key residents to solicit feedback “You are deeply admired by community members across Kings-Hants,” Blois told the recipients The medals went to people involved in the business there is not a person that is involved in agriculture in Nova Scotia that does not know the name Linda Best,” Blois said of the founding director of FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited I couldn’t be prouder to make sure you are … being recognized for your contributions.” He traces his family’s connection in Ellershouse to his great-grandfather our family goes back basically from the start,” he explained Blanchard helped establish and maintain the community hall and has been involved in various community activities for decades “He is a young and robust 90 years old,” Blois said “I want to know the secrets because he never stops.” Blanchard had a 35-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces was a president with the Royal Canadian Legion and was in the militia until he turned 58 Being able to say he was part of various projects makes him proud who has given back to multiple community organizations “He is a man that serves his community and makes a difference.” Carr said there are many non-profit groups looking for people to assist them “Be in love with where you live and make it better Newport Rink Commission and the regional development agency ‘If you’re thinking about Brooklyn or the surrounding area This guy bleeds community,’” Blois recalled There was a common theme throughout the acceptance speeches The humble recipients thanked their supportive families and those they worked with to make their projects possible “It is not like my medal; it is for all of my volunteers.” I would be nothing without them,” she said “There is no end to my team’s love for their communities.” She also thanked the community for helping it keep more than 350,000 pounds of food out of landfills by supplying it to those in need between Digby and Windsor “I am so thankful to live in the Valley and have the community support,” she said we wouldn’t be able to continue our mission.” One of the recipients Blois knew well was softball pitcher Justin Schofield Blois caught for him over the years and they were part of the Halifax Murphy’s Fish & Chips squad that won the junior nationals in 2011 Justin continuously gives back to the game by working with younger pitchers and helping to put on pitching clinics across the province,” Blois explained Schofield had one of the shortest commutes to the awards ceremony as he lives on the same road as the venue Smith was part of the Halifax Jaguars team that won the senior men’s nationals in 1998 in St They defeated the host Halifax-Windsor Keith’s 1-0 on a Barry Wright seventh-inning home run Smith moved to the Annapolis Valley in 1998 after being hired by the Department of Justice to work in Waterville “The Valley is just the most wonderful place in the world you could possibly live.” Smith said the medal recipients are proof that great things can “I think it just reinforces to the folks that live in our region anything is possible.” Blanchard said listening to the recipients’ long list of accomplishments was impressive but not surprising “We have done an awful lot of good work,” he acknowledged but “I didn’t have to come here today to find that out either.” Smith said the ceremony could also be key to inspiring future generations “Kids have to see people succeeding in areas they have interest in to … believe they can actually do those things themselves.” The 20 recipients of the King Charles III Commemoration Medal from Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois were: Chef Christophe Hay is now installed in a grandiose 17C hospice on the banks of the Loire The centuries-old stone edifice overlooks the river from which the chef draws all his inspiration was entrusted with recreating his universe in this splendid hotel In a modern room decked in premium materials the chef rolls out his creative fine dining skills and iconic dishes which are remarkable not only for their lightness He is determined to highlight the best ingredients from the Loire Valley veg from his own kitchen garden as well as from local market gardeners Fishing with the greatest respect for the species of the Loire growing our own permaculture vegetables or managing the restaurant's waste and energy – this is work across the board that takes its places as part of the development of a local economy and we strive to carry it out on a daily basis." 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