Ottawa allows temporary use of gopher poison in Alberta, Saskatchewan

Industry analysts talked in circles on a recent webinar as they discussed the implications for agriculture of Canada’s deteriorating relationship with its largest trading partner.

On one hand, panellists for the hastily convened Canadian AgriFood Policy Institute event acknowledged the futility of negotiating on quicksand: a deal made today with the United States might be sucked into the muck tomorrow.

But on the other, webinar panellists speculated with varying degrees of optimism over what it will take to get negotiators back to bargaining.

This disconnect isn’t unique to this cluster of analysts. However, it underscores the difficulty of coming to terms with the seismic shift in America’s attitudes towards Canada.

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DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I gave a big “present” to my husband this summer and it backfired royally.

My gift? He was free to work overtime without family concerns for the whole summer, to give the big boost to his business, which he needed badly. My newly-retired parents were happy to keep us at their cottage for the summer, and have the grandkids close to them. My dad stood in as the active on-site father figure, and he loved it! This was a break I know my husband never thought he was going to get, after marrying me and having kids right away.

I thought his work dream these days was to go from a medium to a major competitor in his building field! Summer is the biggest money-making time for him, so I really wanted to support him in that.

But a major shock was waiting for me at summer’s end! My husband wants to go back to university, first part-time and later full-time. And he needs me to go back to my career! Another shock? He’s already spoken to my parents behind my back!