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By Alice McFarlane

Federal Carbon Tax

Ontario calls on feds to exempt food production from the Carbon Tax

Apr 2, 2024 | 6:30 AM

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) wants the federal Liberal government to institute a grain drying exemption to the carbon tax.

Starting Monday, April 1 the price of the carbon tax was set at $80 a tonne, up from $65 last year and $50 the year before that.

Even though 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, according to GFO chair Jeff Harrison.

“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,” Harrison said.

Harvested grain is dried to make sure it is safe to eat. Harrison said this is well understood by both Members of Parliament and the Senate.

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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,” Harrison said.

GFO is Ontario’s largest commodity organization, representing 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW