March 30, 2023 (Ottawa, ON) – The Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) is celebrating the passage of Bill C-234 through the House of Commons. Thank you to all Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the bill. We appreciate MP Ben Lobb for sponsoring the bill and for his leadership in making this happen. ACA is now calling on all Senators to also show their support for farmers by ensuring Bill C-234’s swift passage into law. The proposed legislation will deliver critical financial relief for farmers, growers and ranchers across the agricultural sector.
“As Canadian farmers face rising production costs, the passage of Bill C-234 is crucial to providing much-needed financial support,” said Dave Carey, Co-Chair of ACA.
“This legislation will provide farmers with the resources to invest in innovative and sustainable on-farm practices, while ensuring the stability of our food supply. With Bill C-234 advancing to the Senate, we urge swift and decisive action to help our farmers thrive.”
Introduced by MP Ben Lobb (Huron-Bruce), the proposed legislation would amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to include marketable natural gas and propane. Bill C-234 would provide a complete exemption for necessary farm practices that utilize natural gas and propane, such as irrigation, grain drying, feed preparation and heating or cooling of barns, greenhouses and other agricultural growing structures.
“Agriculture is at the forefront of the fight against climate change and the industry has an important role to play in combating food insecurity, at home and abroad,” added Scott Ross, ACA Co-Chair.
“The passage of Bill C-234 will support our farmers and remove the burden of carbon pricing from necessary farm activities that lack viable fuel alternatives. This exemption will unleash the full potential of our farmers, growers and ranchers, enabling them to make investments that help secure a sustainable future for all.”
More information on the positive impact of this legislation can be found at agcarbonalliance.ca/bill-c-234/.
For more information:
Hayley Stacey
Communications Lead
Email: hayley@colesag.com
Phone: 204-804-3333
ACA is a national coalition of 15 farm organizations committed to meaningful and collaborative dialogue with the federal government around carbon pricing. Our membership encompasses all major agriculture commodities and represents 190,000 farm businesses that steward 62 million hectares. Canada’s farmers are the heart of our agri-food value chain, which contributes $135 billion annually and provides one in nine Canadian jobs.
Our members include Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Cattle Association, Grain Growers of Canada, Canadian Pork Council, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, the National Sheep Network, National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, and Mushrooms Canada.
