Agriculture Carbon Alliance announces support for Bill C-234

On news that Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act has been introduced for first reading in the House of Commons, the Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) would like to commend MP Ben Lobb (Huron-Bruce) for bringing forward this urgently-needed legislation on behalf of Canadian farmers and ranchers

Bill C-234 will amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to expand the definition of eligible farming machinery and extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane.

“As a national coalition of industry-wide farm organizations, we are focused on prioritising practical solutions to ensure our farmers and ranchers can remain competitive and utilize the tools available to them where no alternative fuel sources exist,” says Dave Carey, Co-Chair of ACA. “This Bill will provide economic relief for our members, freeing up the working capital they need to implement environmental innovations on farm.”

“We look forward to engaging with parliamentarians and policymakers on the opportunities that Canadian agriculture can provide as both a driver of the economy and an environmental solutions provider.“ 

 

The proposed legislation builds on Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and S-215, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. By amending the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, Bill C-234 will cover on-farm exemptions from carbon pricing for critical farming practices including grain drying, heating, and cooling livestock barns and greenhouses, steam flaking and irrigation.

“By adopting policies that enable producers to remain competitive, they will be able to further  their investments in the sustainability of their operations, which will augment the sector’s potential to further lower emissions and sequester carbon” adds Scott Ross, Co-Chair of ACA. “We look forward to engaging with parliamentarians and policymakers on the opportunities that Canadian agriculture can provide as both a driver of the economy and an environmental solutions provider.”

ACA will continue to advocate for Bill C-234 as it moves through the legislative process and encourages all members of Parliament to move this legislation forward to serve the interests of hardworking Canadian farmers and ranchers – and, ultimately, all Canadians. 

ACA is a national coalition of 14 farm organizations committed to meaningful and collaborative dialogue with the federal government around carbon pricing