CALGARY, AB: The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association supports the move by the province of Saskatchewan to file a constitutional reference in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal regarding the federal imposition of a carbon tax.

“Saskatchewan growers are the most efficient, productive and environmentally friendly growers in the world; our farms are our livelihood, our legacy and we have focused on sustainable crops for generations,” stated Levi Wood, President. “For far too many years, growers have been guilty of not ‘tooting our own horn’ and now the federal government is attempting to force a carbon tax on us, raising our costs and impacting middle-income farmers.”

Saskatchewan grain is sold in a global market and an imposed carbon tax reduces our competitiveness. Through the federal carbon tax, Saskatchewan growers end up paying increased production and transportation costs when moving their product to market. As farmers, we cannot waste our precious resources including time and money, especially when it doesn’t make us more environmentally friendly.

“We understand what the federal government is trying to do and that is to raise our taxes. The Wheat Growers back the “Made in Saskatchewan” plan, that values the agricultural industry, without increasing government coffers. It’s time for the federal government to catch up to Saskatchewan farmers and recognizing the millions of tons of carbon sequestrated by farmers,” said Daryl Fransoo, Director.

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