The current “price on pollution,” i.e. the carbon tax, sits at $50 per tonne carbon dioxide equivalent. Right now, there is an exemption on this tax being applied to on-farm diesel and gas bought in bulk, however propane and natural gas used for grain drying, barn heating, or running irrigation is still subject to the… Read More
Category: Carbon tax
On November 14, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food approved Bill C-234 — a private member’s bill that would exempt natural gas and propane used on farms for drying grain and heating barns from the federal carbon tax. Dave Carey, vice president of government and industry relations at the Canadian Canola… Read More
The private member’s bill that would exempt natural gas and propane used on farms for drying grain and heating barns from the federal carbon tax was approved, with amendments, by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on Monday. Bill C-234, originally introduced by Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb in February of… Read More
It’s a busy time of year in Ottawa and around the world for ministers and for the official critics, too. John Barlow, Alberta MP for Foothills, spent time in Paris, France, last week attending the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) minister’s meeting. Canada’s federal ag minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau, chaired the meeting. Now that… Read More
Saskatchewan’s government is planning to move ahead with its own voluntary carbon offset credit market, which would potentially see farmers receive payments for practices that sequester or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan to move ahead with the provincial offset program was included in the throne speech delivered by Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty on October… Read More
The House of Commons’ agriculture committee is reviewing Bill C-234, the private member’s bill that would exempt fuel used for barn heating and grain drying from the federal government’s carbon tax. The bill received strong support at second reading in the House of Commons back in May, with the Conservatives, NDP, Bloc, Greens, and one… Read More
The “how” of countries around the world working to address climate action through legislation is taking various shapes — from aspirational goals and carbon pricing here in Canada, to fertilizer scrutiny and restrictions in the Netherlands, to taxing cow and sheep burps in New Zealand. New Zealand’s government has aggressive climate action goals, including going… Read More
The evolution of nitrogen emission policy in Canada is, well, a bit of a dog’s breakfast. There’s overarching emissions targets, there are several regulations and standards to follow, plus, there’s funding and support to achieve some of this — all tallied up in a ledger that’s controversial (and confusing) in where numbers are added in,… Read More
The federal government has published the Clean Fuel Regulations, part of its plan to “decarbonize” the energy sector. The policy is a double edged sword for agriculture — on one hand, low-carbon-intensity fuel includes ethanol and renewable diesel, which can create marketing opportunities for corn, wheat, canola, and soy. But many fear that the end… Read More
The Canadian government has unveiled its awaited Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR), setting the stage for increased biofuel demand and production. Once fully implemented, the CFR is expected to cut up to 26.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution by 2030, or roughly the amount of GHGs currently generated by the entire Canadian economy in two… Read More
If you’re tired of hearing about carbon credits or carbon offsets, let’s switch gears and talk carbon insets. A carbon inset credit is equal to a carbon offset — a metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent is either reduced or stored. The key difference, explains Dr. Sara Place, is that an offset is bought by… Read More
Eighty-six partners from different sectors across Canada have come together with a singular focus: to set a benchmark and identify the key indicators that establish a baseline for Canada’s food safety and sustainability. The process and findings also create transparency within the industry, which ultimately could create trust or showcases opportunities for improvement and growth…. Read More
Bill C-234 took a step forward on Wednesday, as the House of Commons voted in favour of it at second reading, sending it to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food for review. The private member’s bill brought forward by Conservative MP Ben Lobb would amend the federal government’s carbon pricing legislation to provide an… Read More
If I buy the best golf club, am I the best golfer? By the same token, if someone plants a cover crop, are they taking better care of soil health than someone who doesn’t? Not necessarily, says Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture and host of RealAg Radio. The trouble is, policy can be prescriptive (i.e.,… Read More
In an effort to gain a better understanding of agriculture on the Prairies, Liberal Member of Parliament for King-Hants in Nova Scotia, Kody Blois, recently visited Saskatchewan to learn about innovation happening in the province, and to hear what challenges producers are facing. Blois serves as the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and… Read More