Fall
2015
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March 29:
The 2012 federal budget was tabled. One of the major elements of the budget affected Old Age Security—the age of eligi-
bility would now increase gradually from 65 to 67, between 2023 and 2029.
April 6:
The federal long-gun registry was officially scrapped, a contentious move, catering mainly to rural Conservative supporters.
Aug. 1:
The
Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act
came into force, ending the CanadianWheat Board’s monopoly over wheat and
barley marketing. The CanadianWheat Board continued to exist as a voluntary marketing body.
Biggest harvest on record:
The bumper grain crop in 2013 of roughly 65 million tonnes led to serious challenges when it came to
storage and transportation, as the massive volume of grain that had to be shipped created a backlog in the railway system.
April 1:
The
Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act (Bill C-30)
came into effect, imposing fines of up to $100,000 per day on Canada’s railway
companies (Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway) if they failed to handle 500,000 tonnes of grain per week in the
following 90 days. In a move widely criticized by the agricultural community, when the legislation was extended in August, the fines
were reduced to a maximum of $100,000 per week.
Aug. 5:
The complete text of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was composed, after an agree-
ment was reached in principle in October 2013. The agreement still needs to be ratified by each EU member state and the Canadian
government before it can be put into force.
Oct. 22:
Corporal Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau while ceremonially guarding the Canadian National War
Memorial. Zehaf-Bibeau proceeded into Centre Block where he was gunned down in a firefight with sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers
and RCMP Const. Curtis Barrett. Vickers was later appointed as Canada’s ambassador to Ireland.
Jan. 1:
The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement came into force, Canada’s first free-trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Feb. 25:
The
Agricultural Growth Act
came into force (tabled Dec. 9, 2013), bringing Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Act in line with
UPOV 91.
June 18:
The
Anti-terrorism Act 2015 (Bill C-51)
, proposed Jan. 20, 2015, became law, despite massive public outcry and considerable
debate in the House of Commons.
July 1:
The federal government’s overhaul of the Temporary ForeignWorker Program came into effect.
July 31:
The Harper government finalized the sale of the Canadian Wheat Board to G3 Global Grain Group, which purchased a 50.1
per cent stake in the board for $250 million.
Aug. 3:
Harper dropped the writ, launching an 11-week election campaign, the longest since 1872, leading up to the Oct. 19 fixed
election date.
(TBDOct. 19, 2015)
Highs and lows from a decade of Conservative rule
