Bill C-234 seeks to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane. The bill recently moved from the House of Commons, where it received widespread support across party lines, into the Senate chamber. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and other agricultural organizations are encouraging its swift passage into law so that farmers and ranchers can benefit from the savings in input costs.
If Bill C-234 is not moved through the Senate before they break for summer in June, farmers won't receive the carbon tax exemption it aims to provide until at least the fall. Some of the activities this bill would exempt from the carbon tax include irrigation, grain drying, feed preparation, heating or cooling of barns, and other necessary on-farm practices that rely on natural gas and propane. In light of rising input costs for farmers and global food insecurity, it is critical that this bill is passed into law as quickly as possible.
CCA is a member of the Agricultural Carbon Alliance (ACA), which was established to ensure that Canadian farmers’ sustainable practices are recognized in the development of new policies and regulations. ACA has been advocating for Bill C-234 by meeting with key Parliamentarians and has more resources available on their website.
CCA will continue to speak with Senators during our ongoing provincial fly-ins this spring to raise awareness of the importance of enacting this exemption, as well as other environmental benefits of beef production and current bills and trade negotiations which will impact Canadian beef exports, such as Bill C-282: An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act.