GFO seeks government support for passing Bill C-234

The Grain Farmers of Ontario is encouraging all Members of Parliament, across all parties, to show support for farmers and farm families by passing Bill C-234 as soon as possible.

Bill C-234: An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act includes an exemption from the carbon tax, or pricing, for fuel used to dry grain.

Late last year, the Senate voted to amend Bill C-234 to remove greenhouse and barn heating from the proposed exemptions, and to reduce the bill’s sunset clause to three years from eight. This left only the proposed exemption for fuels used to dry grain.

When Parliament resumed Jan. 29, Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb tabled a motion to essentially reject the Senate’s amendments to the bill.

In a statement released Jan. 30, Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Brendan Byrne said “Canadian farmers need to know that our federal government will support them as they work to put food on the plates of every Canadian. The carbon tax has proven to be an unbearable new cost for farms – and it is increasing every year. Passing this bill would provide our farmers some relief as they work to dry grain and ready it for food production.”

“Grain drying isn’t a nicety, it’s actually a necessity. Wet grain must be dried quickly or it can quickly spoil. We are being taxed on a necessary process for food production,” continued Byrne.

Debra Conlon, director of government relations for Grain Farmers of Ontario, said in an email statement to Farmtario, “We have been working on this exemption for years and we need it put in place so that farmers don’t have to pay the carbon tax on drying their grain.

“We have done what it takes to prove to both the Senate of Canada and the House of Commons that there are no alternatives for grain drying and that an exemption is warranted.  The politicians and senators that want to see this bill come into law need to find the path that makes the most sense. With a minority government and independent senate, that path might vary from what we originally thought, but the main point is to support farmers and find a good way to pass a bill that will provide some relief from this growing financial burden.”