Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa — The federal government has pushed ahead with an increase to the carbon tax despite continued calls from the agriculture sector for reprieve from the program. The price on carbon rose from $20 per tonne to $30 per tonne effective April 1. The federal Liberal government is standing firm on its commitment to increase […] Read more
Federal carbon tax rises despite opposition, pandemic
Ottawa not backing away from scheduled increases
The carbon tax and how farmers can truly mitigate climate change
Take a deep breath. The real numbers don’t come close to justifying the anger of groups like APAS
Reading Time: 7 minutes “If the treatment doesn’t kill you, the disease will!” I can’t remember when I first heard this saying, or who said it but given the recent carbon tax costing by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), it seems an apt analogy. First, some background. In 2017, APAS hosted the Prairie Agricultural Carbon Summit, where […] Read more
Ottawa roundup: Carbon tax, Grain Act review, Horticultural Council AGM
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite much of the world’s focus being on slumping stock markets and a global pandemic, there are several recent developments out of Ottawa related to agriculture: Canada Grain Act Canada’s Treasury Board has identified the Canada Grain Act as a piece of legislation in need of regulatory reform. This has been on the federal Liberal […] Read more
Subsidy for grain dryer upgrades in Alberta draws critics
Reading Time: 2 minutes Concerns are being raised over a new program for grain drying being offered to Alberta residents. The federal and Alberta governments recently announced Alberta farmers seeking to make grain dryer improvements will have access to funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Efficient Grain Dryer Program aims to cover costs for energy efficiency improvements to […] Read more
Carbon tax an eight per cent hit on net income, APAS says
Reading Time: 2 minutes The average Saskatchewan farmer can expect to lose about eight per cent of his or her annual net farm income to the federal carbon tax to 2020 — and 12 per cent in 2022, the province’s general ag group says. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan on Monday released new estimates on the financial impacts […] Read more
Green Party backs grain drying exemption from carbon tax
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the federal opposition parties in full favour of carbon pricing is lending its support to calls by farm groups for a carbon tax break for grain drying. Vancouver Island MP Paul Manly, the Green Party’s caucus critic for agriculture, announced the party’s position Monday. “We support the grain producers of Canada in their […] Read more
Fraser: The case against carbon pricing for farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government continues to suggest the carbon tax imposed on Prairie farmers is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may not be causing undue harm to the country’s agricultural sector. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks publicly about “special considerations” for farmers, while at the same time openly questioning carbon pricing’s effect on their […] Read more
Prairie provinces react to Bibeau’s questions on carbon price impact
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa — The Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments continue attempts to convince the federal government’s carbon pricing program puts farmers at a disadvantage. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau recently suggested the carbon pricing system may not be disadvantaging farmers, questioning the impact of carbon pricing on agriculture, but saying she will continue to seek out more […] Read more
Manitoba gathering data to press case for exempting grain drying from federal carbon tax
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Manitoba government is gathering data to make the case for exempting grain drying fuels from the federal government’s carbon tax. “So we’ll get the numbers together and then to (federal agriculture) Minister (Marie-Claude) Bibeau and we’ll continue to lobby on behalf of our ag producers,” Manitoba’s Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pederson said […] Read more
Carbon costs affecting grain drying for Prairie farmers
Opponents say the rebates won't fully cover the additional costs farmers must pay
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta struggling to get their crops harvested will also be paying higher costs for drying thanks to the federal carbon levy. While the federal carbon price offers relief for gasoline and light fuel oil costs used in tractors and trucks, there is no exemption for grain drying […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
