The federal government is committed to safeguarding the online marketplace for the benefit and protection of both consumers and businesses. As a result, it has passed a new anti-spam law.

The website, www.fightspam.gc.ca contains information about the law as well as advice on how to protect yourself and your electronic devices from being attacked, and what you can do to fight spam under the new legislation. While on the site:

• Take the online spam quiz to test your knowledge of electronic threats.

• Read the information sheets to learn how to protect yourself or your business from spam and other electronic threats.

• Look at the Frequently Asked Questions section to learn more about the new anti-spam law.

The law targets various types of violations including:

• The sending of commercial electronic messages without express or implied consent;

• The installation of computer programs on another person's computer system without express consent;

• False or misleading electronic representations used to promote products, services or business interests; and

• The unauthorized collection of electronic addresses and the collection of personal information by accessing a computer system in contravention of an Act of Parliament.

Breakfast is the most vital meal of the day. However, a quarter of Canadian moms (26%) feel they are too rushed to prepare breakfast for their children in the morning. As breakfast champions, Nutella is highlighting the importance of breakfast, and providing tips and helpful recipes. One strategy to help during the morning rush is to choose a dish that can be created in advance, such as Nutella breakfast muffins. This allows less time to be spent on meal preparation in the morning and more time enjoying breakfast together as a family.
 

Nutella breakfast muffins
 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 18 to 20 minutes

Makes: 12 muffins
 

Ingredients:

1 cup (500mL) all purpose flour

¾ cup (180mL) whole-wheat flour

¼ cup (60mL) quick cook oats

1 tsp (5mL) baking powder

1 tsp (5mL) baking soda

¾ cup (180mL) Low fat milk (2% or less M.F)

¾ cup (180mL) unsweetened applesauce

¼ cup (60mL) honey

1 egg

1 tsp (5mL) pure vanilla extract

1 cup (250mL) fresh or frozen raspberries

¾ cup Nutella
 

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 375°F (190°c).

• Spray a 12-muffin, non-stick muffin tin with cooking spray.

• In a large bowl, whisk together, flours, oats, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, honey, egg and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just to combine. Fold in raspberries and spoon batter equally between the 12 muffins.

• Bake muffins for 19 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean. Let muffins cool completely.

• Slice the muffin open and spread with 1 tablespoon of Nutella. Great for breakfast on the go. Muffins can be made ahead and frozen.

• Pair with a glass of milk and handful of extra berries.
 

For more recipes and to learn about different individuals and organizations who are championing breakfast in Canada, please visit Facebook.com/TheBreakfastTable

(NC) The province's chicken, turkey, dairy, and egg farmers now account for nearly half of all agriculture output and jobs, says a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Historically, the dairy and poultry sectors have represented about a quarter of all farm output and jobs in B.C.

Total employment in B.C. agriculture fell by 9,400 jobs. In the meantime, dairy and poultry farmers created more than 3,350 jobs during that span, to 31,726, or 45 per cent of total agriculture employment, says the PwC's study "Economic impact of British Columbia's dairy, chicken, turkey, hatching egg, and table egg industries."

The key differentiator is the system of supply management, which oversees all of Canada's poultry and dairy production. Farmers across the provinces work with government and industry to set output levels to prevent boom-bust price swings and ensure farmers receive fair returns.

"Farming is a tough business because it doesn't take much over-production to send producer prices crashing, so bumper crops are not always good news," says Dave Eto, a spokesperson for the B.C. Dairy, Egg, and Poultry Industries. "For more than 40 years, supply management has created a stable environment for farmers, and as the PwC report shows, it has allowed them to invest in jobs while other farming sectors face uncertainty."

Overall, the dairy and poultry sectors add $1.6 billion directly to B.C.'s GDP and underpin $5.6 billion in total economic activity.

Attention editors: This article is for distribution in British Columbia only.