Dec. 6, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) express deep disappointment following the Senate’s rejection of Bill C-234, an Act to Amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which sought to exempt propane and natural gas from carbon pricing for on-farm activities.

“We look to the Senate for sober second thought, but not to reject the will of the House of Commons,” says GGC executive director Kyle Larkin. 

“Members of Parliament from every political party passed C-234 in the House due to the fact that no viable alternatives exist for the use of propane and natural gas for on-farm activities. We are deeply disappointed that the Senate amended the legislation, sending it back to the House of Commons where its status will be unclear.” 

Bill C-234 aims to provide farmers with an exemption from carbon pricing on propane and natural gas, essential for vital farming processes such as drying grain and heating and cooling barns and growing structures. The costs associated with innovation and current technology are substantial, and presently, there are no viable alternative fuel sources available. This legislation would have restored working capital for farmers, enabling them to invest in emerging technologies that would reduce carbon emissions while also meeting the escalating global demand for food.

“The spirit of carbon pricing is to encourage behavioural change,” Larkin adds. “The amending of C-234 leaves farmers with this continued unjust taxation, impeding their ability to invest in technologies and practices that will help them meet our sustainability goals and global demand.”

Similar legislation had been circulated for years but never passed due to the proroguing of Parliament. The amending of Bill C-234 at this stage is profoundly disappointing for both farmers and the industry, who have long advocated for this essential legislation.

“C-234 has been years in the making, while grain farmers across Canada have unfairly had to pay this tax without any way of avoiding it. We are now asking Members of Parliament to debate and pass the bill unamended as soon as possible. It’s time for the government to give our food producers a well-deserved break,” concluded Larkin.

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For media inquiries, contact: 

Hayley Stacey
Hayley@colesag.com
Communications Lead
204-804-3333

Nov. 21, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) celebrate the incorporation of the Competition Act amendment in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, a move aimed at bolstering the right to repair for grain farmers.

“Enabling growers to access essential tools and software for maintaining their equipment, such as tractors and combines, will foster a more equitable landscape between manufacturers and consumers,” states Kyle Larkin, executive director of GGC.

The right to repair enables farmers to gain access to the tools and software to repair their own equipment, saving time during critical periods of the year and reducing costs through the introduction of competitive forces. Additionally, enabling cross-manufacturer communication among farm equipment expands farmer options, driving both competition and innovation.

GGC looks forward to collaborating with the government to ensure that the right-to-repair policies fully support grain farmers across Canada.

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For more information:

Hayley Stacey

Communications Consultant

Hayley@colesag.com

204-804-3333

Nov. 7, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) commends Senators for rejecting the proposed amendment to Bill C-234, an Act to Amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, eliminating provisions concerning the heating and cooling of barns and structures.

“The rejected amendment would have denied financial relief to tens of thousands of hardworking livestock, greenhouse growers, and farmers, placing undue pressure on their livelihoods and our food security,” says Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC.

Larkin emphasizes the sector’s shared technical constraints and the absence of viable alternatives, saying, “Current innovations come at a high cost, and carbon pricing on essential farm practices diverts funds from these crucial investments.

“To enhance outcomes, we must empower farmers by returning capital to them, enabling investments in operational efficiencies,” adds Larkin.

Farmers presently incur a carbon price when using natural gas and propane for necessary farming practices. Lacking viable alternatives, pricing these activities fails to lower emissions effectively.

Larkin explains, “The exemptions proposed in Bill C-234 are essential to restore working capital in farmers’ hands, enabling investments in operational efficiencies. To safeguard farmers’ profitability, sustainability and our food security, GGC urges Senators to swiftly pass this legislation at third reading. Canadian farmers have waited too long, and further delays risk withholding essential support they urgently need.”

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For more information:

Hayley Stacey

Communications Consultant

Hayley@colesag.com

204-804-3333

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

Oct 19. 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) enthusiastically supports MP Kody Blois for introducing Bill C-359, a pivotal legislation amending the Feeds Act, Seeds Act and Pest Control Products Act. This bill will enable swift provisional registration for feeds, seeds and pest control products endorsed by two or more reputable jurisdictions, breaking barriers for grain farmers’ access to innovative tools.

“Innovative pesticides, herbicides and seeds are essential for our grain producers,” stated Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “This legislation ensures they can continue to adopt sustainable practices, increase yields and support Canada’s ambitious climate change objectives.”

GGC would like to thank MP Kody Blois for his dedication to Canadian agriculture and urges the government and all Members of Parliament to support Bill C-359 to bolster grain farmers access to innovative products. 

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For media inquiries, please contact: 

Hayley Stacey

Communications Consultant

hayley@colesag.com

204-804-3333

List of Recommendations 

Recommendation 1: We recommend that the Government of Canada implement the 2022 National Supply Chain Task Force recommendations, including: 

1. Make the current 18-month extended interswitching rail service pilot permanent, make it available nationally and increase the distance from 160km to 500km; 

2. Invest to remove pressure points and increase capacity and fluidity, especially at ports, particularly the North Shore rail bridge and tunnel in Vancouver; 

3. Give the Canadian Transportation Agency the mandate to ensure balanced negotiating powers between shippers and railways; and, 

4. Give grain farmers and shippers the ability to apply meaningful reciprocal penalties when railways do not deliver rail cars on time. 

Recommendation 2: We recommend that the Government of Canada create regulations and policies that allow for Canada to be a world leader in grain innovation, including: 

1. Canada should set a target to be the largest investor (public and private combined) in grain-related research per GDP. This requires increased public investment in grain R&D to ‘catch up’ from years of dilution and underinvestment, and to address regulatory irritants and hurdles, to attract a much higher share of global grain R&D from private firms. 

2. Gene-editing will revolutionize plant breeding and bring more sustainable varieties to farmers faster. CFIA must publish the final guidance on plant breeding innovations, as soon as possible, to secure investments in R&D and to ensure that farmers have access to the new varieties, when they are available around the world; and, 

3. Pesticide approvals must be based on science and risk-based decision-making. Real world observations must be given priority over modelling. Agronomic factors (e.g., disease pressures, alternatives, etc.) need to be reflected in decision making. 

July 27th, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay as the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. With the transition of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau to the National Revenue portfolio, MacAulay takes on the role once again, having previously served as the Minister of Veterans Affairs for five years.

MacAulay’s return to the agriculture portfolio brings with it a sense of familiarity and a strong foundation of experience. During his previous tenure, GGC established a close working relationship with the Minister, characterized by open dialogue and collaboration. According to Andre Harpe, Chair of GGC, “The Minister’s open-door policy and willingness to engage in partnership were instrumental in maximizing the potential of our sector. Such collaboration is vital to ensuring the growth and prosperity of Canada’s grain farmers.”

GGC eagerly anticipates collaborating with Minister MacAulay on various critical issues, including innovation, transportation system reliability, and particularly sustainability. These issues play a pivotal role in unlocking the grain sector’s full potential and meeting Canada’s net-zero goals. In this regard, GGC looks forward to engaging with Minister MacAulay on our “Road to 2050” climate solution initiative, aimed at developing practical and proactive approaches to tackling climate change.

Harpe also extends sincere gratitude to Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, acknowledging her significant contributions during her tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Over the last five years, GGC has developed a positive relationship with Minister Bibeau. Her legacy is apparent in many aspects of the portfolio, most notably sustainability. We want to express our appreciation for the Minister and look forward to working with her in her new role.”

Canadian Agriculture holds immense potential for both economic and environmental growth. GGC is committed to working with Minister MacAulay and the new cabinet to position Canada’s grain farmers for success.

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For more information, contact:

Hayley Stacey
Communications Lead
P: 204-804-3333
E: media@ggc-pgc.ca

July 18, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) are pleased to welcome Kyle Larkin as its Executive Director. Larkin brings extensive advocacy, political and association experience to the organization and is poised to elevate the discussion around relevant policy issues at a national level.

GGC believes Larkin is the ideal leader to navigate the shifting political and regulatory climate. His appointment comes at a critical juncture, as the Canadian grains sector faces a rapidly evolving political and regulatory landscape.

“Kyle is the right person to help us seize these opportunities,” says Andre Harpe, GGC Chair. “His track record of driving impactful results, as well as his impressive experience in politics and strategic direction, will further strengthen GGC’s position as a leader in the industry.”

With a decade-long background in government relations, public relations and politics, Larkin has consistently achieved impressive results. His expertise lies in developing and executing public affairs strategies for national and provincial organizations. Throughout his career, Larkin has earned recognition from media publications such as The Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC, BBC and The Hill Times. Additionally, he has been honoured with the 2019 Government Relations Campaign of the Year by the Canadian Public Relations Society and the 2022 Canadian Society of Association Executives Award of Distinction for his work advancing climate change objectives.

“I am honoured to build on GGC’s legacy of leadership in Canada’s grain sector. Together with our members across the country, I look forward to advocating for the priorities of grain farmers and further unlocking the sector’s full potential,” states Larkin. “As the collective voice of over 65,000-grain farmers, my focus is expanding our presence on Parliament Hill, growing our national membership and enhancing our responsiveness to current and emerging issues.”

Prior to joining the GGC, Larkin served as Vice-President at Impact Public Affairs, a national full-service public affairs firm. Prior to this, he held key positions in various offices on Parliament Hill, including with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Larkin’s arrival marks an exciting transition for GGC, as he replaces interim Executive Director Tyler Bjornson. GGC extends its gratitude to Bjornson for his valuable contributions during his time with the organization.

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For more information, contact:

Hayley Stacey
Communications Lead
P: 204-804-3333
E: media@ggc-pgc.ca

May 3, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released its updated guidance on plant breeding innovation, marking the conclusion of a consultation process that began in 2021. This move has been welcomed by Canadian grain farmers, who believe innovative plant breeding techniques such as gene editing are essential to ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture.

“The CFIA’s updated guidance on plant breeding innovation is a step in the right direction,” says Andre Harpe, Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “It will help us keep pace with global competitors who have already embraced science-based policies to improve crop yields and quality. This is especially important as we face new challenges posed by climate change and other environmental pressures.”

Alongside the CFIA’s updated guidance, Canadian seed and grain organizations have moved forward with best-in-class transparency tools, ensuring Canadian farmers can verify if their seed was developed using gene editing and provide this information along the value chain as needed. This is critical to maintaining market choice in the Canadian grain sector and ensuring consumers can access the highest quality products.

Farmers across Canada have been eagerly awaiting this news, as gene editing offers the potential to produce crops that are more resilient to pests and disease and require less water and fertilizer. These benefits will help Canadian farmers increase their productivity while reducing their environmental footprint.

“The government plays a vital role in enabling innovation and ensuring that farmers have access to the best plant varieties and crop inputs,” says William Van Tassel, Vice Chair of GGC and Chair of the sustainability committee. “Access to innovation and market options are vital to meet our long-term sustainability needs and goals. We urge the government to continue to defend these tools as safe and essential to achieving emission reduction and sustainability goals.”

With the release of CFIA’s updated guidelines, Canadian farmers are well-positioned to lead the way in sustainable crop production, contributing to the country’s economic growth.

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For more information, contact:

Hayley Stacey
Communications Lead
P: 204-804-3333
E: media@ggc-pgc.ca