Conservative MP stands with farmers in support of Bill C234

Conservative MP John Barlow, the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Security was joined by a group of independent farmers from across Canada this morning at a press conference to address the games being played in the Senate to kill Bill C-234.

"Our Canadian farmers are world leaders in sustainable and efficient food production. But after eight years of Justin Trudeau and his costly carbon tax, their livelihoods and their family farms are in jeopardy. This is a reality in rural communities across Canada, where farmers do not have any other alternatives to heat and cool their barns and dry their grain. They do everything they can to innovate, adopt new technology, and ensure environmental sustainability of their operations."

The bill would remove the carbon tax on natural gas and propane used for on farm use for grain drying, irrigation, heating, and cooling livestock barns and greenhouses.

He says this common sense Conservative Bill C 234, was introduced because a tax on farmers is an increase in the cost of food for every single Canadian.

Barlow talked about the fact that four new Senators who have not participated in any meetings or discussions on the Bill are expected to vote it down.

"The Liberals in the Senate are trying to kill Bill C 234 today and bury the news in the Fall Economic Statement. In fact, they are swearing in four new Senators today to ensure they have the votes they need to kill this bill. These senators, including Roger Cuzner, who is a former Liberal Member of Parliament so not exactly an independent Senate, have not participated in any debates or any discussions on this bill. So it'd be extremely disingenuous if those five new senators were to vote on this bill."

Colin Chapdelaine with Star Produce - a grower and marketer of greenhouse products in Alberta and British Columbia talked about his concerns with the Bill at its impact on competitiveness.