When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Dec. 10, 2020, the national carbon tax would skyrocket to $170 per tonne by 2030, only ten years away but escalating each year; the Ag Twitter community voiced their various objections.  
One national newspaper headline said Canadians couldn’t afford to pay an extra $27 each time they fill up their minivans, but that’s what it will soon cost as the PM jacks up his carbon tax. 
When this reporter asked for help writing this story from the Ag Twitter world, comments and discussion followed for two days and beyond.  
To start, Pat Kunz, Richmound SK farmer, said there would be very little support for the carbon tax if the people didn’t hear the word ‘rebate.’  
Jim Pallister Portage la Prairie area farmer said, “It (the increased carbon tax) has the potential to destroy our business.” 
Rob Stone, another Saskatchewan farmer said, “We raise crops with zero till that sequester Carbon implementing efficiencies for both business and stewardship reasons. Yet little recognition for those efforts in the government’s carbon tax plan.” 
Rebates do not come close to covering increased costs.  
Corey Loessin, chair of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers said implementing and escalating a tax on a necessary input for which there is no identified alternative doesn’t stimulate innovation – it penalizes production. Grain farmers cannot recoup the increased costs the government is forcing on them. 
Brian Kennedy who works with Alberta Barley and Cereals in Calgary, AB isn’t sure the Feds and PM considered unintended consequences.  
“If there are two tractor makers, purple and azure and the government puts a big tax on purple chances are that azure will not work to keep their prices low. They will raise them to just below purple. Does taxing oil incentivize electricity or give them an excuse to raise their prices?” 
Fraser McPhee, who farms in southwest Manitoba said accelerating carbon tax, huge yearly increases, with no climate action incentive for farms to offset direct and hidden costs. Increasing carbon tax on regulated grain shipments to the port will cost $20M in 2020 is $113M in 2030 out of farmers’ pockets each year. 
“Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan” released mandates a 30 per cent reduction in fertilizer sales by 2030. Ag Emission estimates in NIR, how they judge farmers per year don’t take farmers’ good 4R practices into account. So reducing fertilizer sales is our only option. Less grain produced.” 
For farmers to achieve those goals, the 4R concept incorporates the:  
Right fertilizer source at the 
Right rate, at the 
Right time and in the 
Right place 
McPhee said the clean fuel standard enforced in 2022 would make farm fuels more expensive. Canada already imports half of the ethanol; a higher concentration in the future will require more imports. Either way, it’s many dollars coming out of rural communities.  
Ron Krahn at Rivers, MB tweeted if implemented by the government in the way the first information is flowing out, it cut profits and reflect in land values. 
“For those dictating (or bought into the idea) that we need to change, think we need to ask specifics as to how they expect it to happen.” 
Decreeing something to happen without knowing the implications and how it will happen is irresponsible. 
Dieter Schwarz replying to Krahn concurred that there is no visible plan from the land’s current rulers. Rather platitudes about how budgets balance themselves and an opportunity to reset. The plans are scary, but who will hold the government people accountable?  
Jim Wickett who farms at Rosetown, SK said the big thing all these environmental people like to quote is the increase in fertilizer and pesticide use. What they tend to ignore is the increase in productivity.  
“We use the same amount as we always have in comparison to a unit of production.” 
The debate rages on and the common theme through the entire Ag Twitter discussion it will leave Canadian farmers uncompetitive in the world market.  •
— By Harry Siemens