Overview
Earlier this month, Alberta Pork recommended hog producers advocate for Bill C-234, an Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. The proposed amendment would “expand the definition of eligible farming machinery and extend the exemption to include natural gas and propane for specific uses.”
Last week, on Wed., May 18, the bill passed second reading in the House of Commons, with 170 Members of Parliament (MPs) voting ‘yea’ and 143 MPs voting ‘nay.’ Conservative, New Democrat, Bloc Québécois and Green MPs supported the bill, while Liberal MPs did not.
What this means is that the bill will move on to third reading in the House. If the bill passes third reading in the House, it will move on to the Senate before potentially becoming law. If that happens, producers across the country will be eligible for a carbon tax exemption on the fuels used to heat barns and dry grain.
Thank you
To those producers who acted on Alberta Pork’s suggestion to reach out to your MPs, thank you. Your vocal support for this bill not only has the potential to help your bottom line, but it signals to our politicians that farmers are paying attention.
The agriculture industry recognizes that innovation can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time and that, as new alternative fuels become available, we will be able to adapt. Implementing innovative technologies requires funding and, where possible, incentives to change rather than taxes that punish producers.
As the world faces ongoing food shortages, the carbon tax is not a credible solution to the problem.
More information
For more information, please contact Darcy Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Alberta Pork by email at darcy.fitzgerald@albertapork.com or by phone at 780-491-3529, toll-free at 1-877-247-PORK (7675).