The Parliamentary Budget Officer has calculated that farmers would save $235 million over the next five years if the government exempts their use of natural gas and propane from the carbon tax.
Grain Farmers of Ontario has been lobbying hard for an exemption for grain drying. Poultry farmers starting poults are also big propane users.
Conservative Philip Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South, introduced a private member’s bill a year ago to grant farmers the exemption and a similar bill was also introduced in the Senate.
Provinces are able to develop a climate change strategy of their own, so long as it meets federal standards.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have done nothing.
Fuels that contain dye or bought from from card-lock facilities are exempt under federal regulations.
