CALGARY, AB: With the new federal cabinet being sworn in, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers are launching a new “NoFarmCarbonTax” petition and website. A letter has been sent to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food as well as the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change to detail the financial burden that the carbon tax places on grain farmers.
“The federal government is adding an escalating carbon tax onto virtually all the inputs that grain farmers need to grow and transport our crops. In particular the cost of grain drying this fall has seen the carbon tax add as high as 43,” said Gunter Jochum, President.
The NoFarmCarbonTax petition may be found at www.NoFarmCarbonTax.com and also asks farmers to submit their energy bill and the carbon tax values in order to show the federal government how big an imposition this is.Farmers are unable to pass on carbon tax costs to grain buyers, risking their bottom line and global competitiveness.
We encourage grain farmers to take a moment, join this campaign and send a clear message to Ottawa.
“Grain farmers have been particularly hard hit this fall with the rain and snow. Grain drying has been crucial in order to save this year’s harvest and yet the federal government is adding a carbon tax and GST on top of our expenses. They are seriously impacting a fragile market,” said Daryl Fransoo, Director.
About the Wheat Growers:
Founded in 1970, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is a voluntary farmer-run advocacy organization dedicated to developing public policy solutions that strengthen the profitability and sustainability of farming, and the agricultural industry as a whole. For more information, please visit wheatgrowers.ca.
For More Information Contact:
Dave Quist, Executive Director
587-224-7221
dquist@wheatgrowers.ca