Two groups have been formed by farmers to lobby over the federal government’s carbon tax.
The Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) is supported by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, Canadian Horticultural Council, Canadian Pork Council, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada, Grain Growers of Canada, and Turkey Farmers of Canada.
Farmers for Climate Solution (FCS) claims to represent more than 20,000 Canadian farmers and is asking the federal government for $300 million to create six national programs to help farmers adopt practices that reduce carbon emissions.
The ACA coalition said it “will work proactively on behalf of Canadian agriculture to advocate for constructive and evidence-based policies regarding carbon pricing, offsets, retrofit funding, and related environmental policies.”
The FCS said its request includes $10 million for pilot programs to transition on-farm energy beyond diesel to clean energy.
The FCS members include Canadian Organic Growers, Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network, BC Farmers’ Markets, Cooperative our l’Agriculture de Proximite Ecologique, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, Ecology Action Centre, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, equiterre, Farm Folk City Folk, Manitoba Organic Alliance, National Farmers Union (national and Ontario), Organic Council of Ontario, Ontario Sheep Farmrs, Regeneration Canada, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions, Saskatchewan Organics, Seed Change, Young Agrarians and a number of partners and supporters such as the Ivey and Metcalf Foundations, the Prairie Climate Centre and Vancity.
