Grain Farmers of Ontario calls on Government to Exempt Food Production from the Carbon Tax
March 28 2024 - 3:00PM
Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province's largest commodity
organization, representing Ontario's 28,000 barley, corn, oat,
soybean and wheat farmers, today calls on the federal Liberal
government to institute a grain drying exemption to the carbon tax
ahead of the April 1, 2024 increase.
The price of the carbon tax will be set at $80 a tonne as of
April 1 of this year, up from $65 last year and $50 the year before
that.
Despite the fact that farmers have no viable alternatives to dry
grain and must use current technology to ensure that wet grain is
dried, the federal government continues to burden farmers with this
increasing tax.
"It is simple: don't tax food production. Farmers are
rightfully concerned that they are being penalized for drying their
grain when they have no alternatives, and Canadians are rightly
confused about why the government is adding costs to food
production when there are lineups at food banks across the
country," said Jeff Harrison, Chair, Grain Farmers of
Ontario.
Harvested grain is dried to make sure it is safe to
eat. This simple fact was well understood by both Members of
Parliament and the Senate. The provincial government has also come
out in support of farmers, with Premier Doug Ford issuing a public
statement on the carbon tax and Ontario Minister of Agriculture,
Food, and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson sending a letter to the
federal government signed by Ontario commodity organizations.
"We want to thank Premier Ford and Minister Thompson for their
continued support, and we call on the Liberal government to put in
an exemption for drying grain as soon as the House of Commons
returns from the Easter break," said Harrison.
GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province's largest commodity
organization, representing Ontario's 28,000 barley, corn, oat,
soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6
million acres of farmland across the province, generate over $4.1
billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic
output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the
province.
Victoria Berry
Grain Farmers of Ontario
226-820-6641
vberry@gfo.ca