The Best Option is to Reimburse Farmers’ Money

Public Statement from Atlantic Grains Council, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Grain Growers of Quebec, and Ontario Bean Growers

We, the undersigned, welcome the news that the federal government has set aside tariffs paid by farmers ($34 million) but stress that money needs to be reimbursed directly to those farmers who paid it. 

The tariff funds collected from farmers should not be a cost that is borne by those growing and providing everyone’s food. Farmers can provide information on the tariff monies they paid and can be reimbursed directly.

We have been working as a coalition for many months to raise awareness of the challenges Canada’s decision to impose tariffs on Russian fertilizer imports has created for Canadian farmers. As a group, we have met with dozens of Members of Parliament, as well as decision-makers in Cabinet minister’s offices and the public service. 

We have been clear: 

• Canadian farmers stand with the people of Ukraine
• We are asking why Canada is the only G7 nation asking its farmers to pay for tariff retaliation that doesn’t hurt Russia
• The UN is asking countries not to impose barriers to fertilizer trade to avert a global food crisis, yet Canada—a global grain superpower the world needs in a time of crisis – made its farmers pay a significant tariff, which they continue to pay

We await the government’s plan to reimburse farmers directly for the tariff money paid on fertilizer.