Farmers exempt from carbon tax thanks to Conservative bill

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This article was published 08/07/2021 (1733 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Farmers will be exempt from paying a federal carbon tax on natural gas and propane used for farming operations, thanks to a private members bill introduced by Northumberland – Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence and seconded by Provencher MP Ted Falk.

Conservative, Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Green party members supported the bill while the Liberals were opposed.

“This is great news for farmers and all of us who enjoy the great products they produce,” Falk said. “Our farmers face so much uncertainty from weather conditions to global trade disputes. They don’t need the Liberal carbon tax adding to their burden.”

In a late February interview with RealAgriculture.com, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said they couldn’t support the bill because grain drying was not listed as an eligible farm activity according to the bill. However, the definition describes it as “an industrial machine or a stationary or portable engine” something that the bill’s creator said includes every grain dryer.

Liberals have also hinted at offering new rebates for on-farm fuel use, though details have yet to be released.

Falk said he feels the original carbon tax bill didn’t exempt grain dryers as a mistake.

“I think the Liberal government was just not thinking far enough, that they inadvertently didn’t include the propane and natural gas and I think it was a matter of pride that they couldn’t admit that they missed it, so they refused to support a private member’s bill that would recognize all farm fuel should be exempt,” he said.

While the NDP, Green Party and Conservatives are not often aligned on climate legislation, Falk said they do share a common respect for the industry.

“I think there’s also a recognition from most parties of the importance of the food sector,” he said. “People realize that when it comes to protecting our food supply and providing adequate support for the agriculture industry, that’s important.”