Grain Growers of Canada call on Senators to reject delaying Bill C-234
Oct 24. 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) are calling on all Senators to reject the Agriculture and Forestry committee’s approved amendment to remove the heating and cooling of barns and greenhouses from Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
“We are disappointed to see some Senators on the committee vote in favour of a harmful amendment that will only serve to further delay C-234,” says Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “Proceeding with this amendment will cost farmers thousands of dollars which otherwise could be invested in the sustainability and efficiency of their operations.”
Although grain dryers remain exempt from carbon pricing on natural gas and propane, the recent amendment introduces a troubling double standard within the industry. Failure to reject this amendment on the Senate floor will lead to substantial delays in passing the legislation, requiring it to be sent back to the House of Commons for additional review.
Bill C-234, as written, recognizes the lack of viable alternatives for grain drying. However, GGC insists the same standard must apply to livestock ranchers and fruit and vegetable growers facing similar technological constraints.
“Let me be clear, there are no viable alternatives for natural gas and propane grain dryers on the market or in development. The same holds true for barn heating and cooling technology, which is far from meeting livestock requirements,” continued Larkin. “Canada’s grain farmers stand with our partners in the livestock and grower industry,” .
Canada’s grain farmers are, however, grateful that a proposal to shorten the sunset clause to three years instead of eight was defeated by a majority of Senators at the Agriculture and Forestry committee. This would not only have delayed the legislation even further, but would have impacted farmers in the future.
In the spirit of protecting farmers’ profitability and sustainability, GGC urges all Senators to reject the amendment at the report stage and pass C-234 in earnest to provide needed certainty before year-end.
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Corrected: 11:30 am EST.
For more information:
Hayley Stacey
Communications Consultant
Hayley@colesag.com
204-804-3333