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Federal
Bill C-234, a Conservative private member's bill in Canada, has been the subject of significant debate on the Hill. The bill aims to provide relief from the carbon tax for Canadian farmers by amending the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. Specifically, it would exempt fuels used for grain drying, as well as for heating and cooling barns and greenhouses. CanGEA had submitted a comment on the initial introduction of the bill in late May, requesting that the federal government consider direct-use applications of geothermal heat as an efficient solution for agricultural needs in crop drying and animal husbandry etc., which would mitigate the need for carbon tax reductions. Recent developments have seen notable changes following a vote in the Senate. Initially, the bill aimed to broadly eliminate the carbon levy on most natural gas and propane used in farming operations, covering both grain drying and heating of farm buildings. However, a recent amendment passed in the Senate has significantly narrowed its scope. This amendment restricts the carbon-pricing exemption solely to propane used for grain drying, removing the provision for fuels used for heating farm buildings. This change was passed narrowly with a 40-39 vote margin, eliciting strong reactions of disapproval from Conservative Party leaders. CanGEA has little comment from our industry’s perspective, other than that persisting carbon taxes may force public bodies, farmers, and private investors to turn elsewhere for relief – to geothermal energy. We encourage all parties on the Hill to consider innovative alternatives and compromises to clean and affordable energy solutions for agriculture and critical industries. Comments are closed.
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Archives
November 2024
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