OTTAWA, ON – The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) is calling on the Canadian Senate to urgently pass Bill C-234, a pivotal piece of legislation for the agricultural sector and consumers. The final vote is expected today, November 21st, but there are serious concerns that the vote will be further delayed. This private member’s bill, which passed in the House of Commons with all-party support, aims to provide specific exemptions for farmers under Canada’s carbon pricing system.
Compte tenu de la hausse actuelle de l'inflation des aliments - la plus élevée depuis 40 ans - l'adoption du projet de loi C-234 est une mesure cruciale non seulement pour la politique agricole, mais aussi pour la lutte contre la crise plus générale du coût de la vie au Canada.
Jan VanderHout, President of FVGC, highlights the critical situation of family farms and the necessity of accessible fresh fruits and vegetables. “Bill C-234 is vital for an industry struggling with soaring carbon taxes and increasing operational expenses. For example, a 30-acre Ontario greenhouse pepper family farm incurs about $150,000 in annual carbon tax expenses at today’s rates. This mid-sized commercial operation can incur expenses between $7,000-$12,000 per month. We urge the Senate to promptly pass Bill C-234, enabling us to continue providing affordable food for Canadians,” says VanderHout.
Currently, carbon costs are unavoidable for growers. Adopting Bill C-234 would enable farmers to reinvest carbon tax expenditures into innovative, low-emission technologies, driving down both agricultural costs and consumer food prices, while supporting environmental sustainability.
As the carbon tax escalates – currently at $65 per tonne and projected to reach $170/tonne by 2030 – Canadian agriculture faces significant financial burdens. Sector-wide, Canadian greenhouse growers will spend approximately $22 million in 2023 in carbon taxes applied to their natural gas used to grow food year-round in Canada, and this amount will rise to between $82-100 million by 2030. The passage of Bill C-234 is crucial to averting a spike in grocery prices and offering substantial support to farmers battling rising costs and carbon tax challenges.
FVGC implores Canadian Senators to acknowledge the significance of this bill and act swiftly in its approval. The future sustainability of Canadian agriculture and the affordability of food nationwide hinges on this essential decision.
Les Producteurs de fruits et légumes du Canada (PFLC) représentent les producteurs de tout le pays impliqués dans la production de plus de 120 types de cultures différentes sur plus de 14 000 entreprises agricoles, avec des recettes monétaires agricoles de 5,9 milliards de dollars en 2021. Les PFLC sont une association nationale bénévole à but non lucratif basée à Ottawa et, depuis 1922, plaide en faveur d'enjeux importants qui ont un impact sur le secteur des produits frais au Canada, en promouvant des aliments sains, sûrs et durables, assurant ainsi le succès et la croissance continus de l'industrie.
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Peyrard
Gestionnaire, communications
Producteurs de fruits et légumes du Canada
613-621-2195