BARRHEAD/WESTLOCK - Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen is supporting a private member’s bill to have farmers exempted from paying the federal carbon levy on propane and natural gas on top of the exemption farmers already have for marked gasoline and fuel.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence originally introduced Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, in the House of Commons Feb. 18, 2020 where it passed first reading.
In his initial comments, Lawrence said that while travelling his riding, he had heard from farmers (and non-farmers) that the carbon tax was impacting the way they operate their businesses.
The Conservative Party MP acknowledged that there is an exemption from the carbon levy on marked gasoline and diesel for farmers, but for whatever reason, propane and natural gas were left out.
“That left many grain growers and farmers out in the cold, as they were drying their grain and paying thousands of dollars in carbon tax,” he said.
Lawrence also claimed that the carbon rebates may account for less than 10 per cent of the carbon tax, or at least in the case of farmers.
“My private members’ bill would allow an increase in the exemption to include both natural gas and propane, making life just a bit easier and more affordable for our farmers,” he said.
He said this would allow farmers to invest in technologies to fight climate change, such as sequestering carbon.
Incidentally, Bill C-206 presented on the same day as a bill in the Senate that also called for a wider exemption from the carbon levy for farmers. Bill S-215 was sponsored by Senator Dianne Griffin.
Up to 20 MPs may formally express support for a private member’s bill. After three other MPs did so, Viersen announced his intentions to add his name as a co-sponsor in a news release submitted to the media on March 11.
“Over the past few years, farm families in Peace River-Westlock have been burdened by trade disruptions, global pricing instability and extremely wet conditions.
Now, as of Jan. 1, the Liberal Carbon Tax increases the already high cost of drying crops and cuts into farmers’ income by over 12 per cent. That means tens of thousands of dollars taken out of our rural communities,” said Viersen.
“By changing a few words in the legislation, Bill C-206 can save our farmers millions of dollars and keep this money in our local economies.”
A spokesperson for Viersen suggested that after Parliament resumes on April 20, it is likely Bill C-206 will likely come up for debate in early May.
Incidentally, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) have voiced their support for both Bill S-215 and Bill C-205 and hopes that either of them will pass before this spring.
"This past year’s harvest from hell was difficult for grain growers across this country," said GGC chair Jeff Nielsen. “It is a very important step forward to see Senator Griffin and MP Lawrence recognize the urgent need to support Canada’s grain farmers.”
