Minority governments and parties playing games with farmers’ well-being

Two bills before the Senate in Ottawa were not friendly to different parts of agriculture and food production, but they need watching. The amended version of Bill C-234, with the proposed farm carbon tax exemption reduced to only grain drying and just three years, is heading back to the House of Commons on October 3.
It appears that the NDP and Bloc will support it. The Conservatives may let it pass, but that is still to be determined.
So what is happening here? I’ll talk about that later.
Bill C-282, currently under Senate committee review, seeks to protect Canada’s supply management sectors (dairy, eggs, and poultry) by preventing these areas from opening up in future trade negotiations. Supporters, such as these sectors, view it as essential to safeguarding their industries. At the same time, critics, including Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), beef producers, and some consumer groups, argue it limits trade flexibility and could hurt sectors outside of supply management. The bill has already passed the House of Commons and two Senate readings.
Daryl Fransoo, the Chair of the Wheat Growers Association, voiced his disappointment, saying, “Once again, the federal government has missed the opportunity to support agriculture and those who work in the industry. The real issues impacting us are the cumulative effect of the carbon tax on everything we do, the growing need for coordinated grain research, increased funding for the PMRA, and industry efficiency through an improved Canada Grains Act.”
Moreover, there needs to be more understanding and commitment from government officials who act on scatter-brained regulations.
The federal government’s efforts to defeat C-234, a bill aimed at providing immediate relief to grain farmers from the negative impact of the carbon tax on grain drying, showcase a lack of understanding of how these costs affect farmers’ ability to grow grain for both domestic and export markets.
As one commentator said on X/Twitter, the feds basically gutted C-234, exempting grain drying but making it come for review in three years instead of eight.
It means less than the original, but it would be a short-term break for drying grain if CPC leadership chooses to allow it to pass. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another private member’s bill to expand the exemption, but I’m not sure how much energy it’s worth with the prospect of CPC government.
The Bloc appears to have made passage of supply management bill C-282 a condition of supporting Liberal minority govt.
This puts Trudeau-appointed independent senators who have been critical of the bill in a pickle, with 282 at the Senate committee stage. Block 282 and bring down gov’t?
Of course, the dairy, egg and poultry sectors are proponents of this legislation. The other side of the fence is CAFTA, which includes beef producers, grain groups, and consumer groups.
The Canadian Cattle Association stated CCA is not the only industry affected by Bill C-282. As a member of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), CCA supports efforts to oppose Bill C-282 alongside like-minded members by raising awareness of the potential consequences with MPs and senators from all parties.
“We are taking every opportunity to advocate with elected officials to communicate our concerns with this bill. Collaborating with CAFTA will be key in our advocacy efforts as they provide a unified voice against C-282, bringing together the 90 per cent of farmers who depend on trade,” said the CCA.
On March 9, 2023, Dennis Laycraft and Nathan Phinney, president of the Canadian Cattle Association, appeared at the House of Commons Parliamentary Committee on International Trade, along with CAFTA, to share their input on Bill C-282 and emphasize the dangerous precedent this bill sets for future trade negotiations. CCA and CAFTA urged MPs to oppose the bill in its current form.
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) continues to express strong concerns regarding Bill C-282, emphasizing its potential risks to Canada’s trade negotiations. If passed, the bill could hinder trade negotiators and damage Canada’s global reputation. CAFTA has been actively engaging with Senators, discussing the adverse effects the bill could have on Canada’s trade policy. The bill is currently under review by the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, where CAFTA looks forward to presenting its case against it. •