A number of provincial premiers are now writing letters of support for Huron Bruce Conservative MP Ben Lobb’s private member’s bill C-234 to exempt on-farm use of propane and natural gas for grain drying and heating of farm buildings from the carbon tax.
Lobb says on Facebook Premier Doug Ford as well as the premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan have written letters to senators urging them to pass Lobb’s bill as it is. So far, it appears it’s been generally conservative leaning premiers who have written the letters.
Bill C-234 passed third reading in the House of Commons and is now being debated in the Senate.
Earlier this month, amendments proposed by Liberal affiliated senators that would have removed the heating portion of the bill were defeated.
Recently, another amendment was proposed and debate was shut down until the next sitting of the Senate.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says in his letter, “The federal government in recent weeks announced a temporary pause on the carbon tax for home heating oil. Since then the federal environment minister has publicly claimed there will be no more care outs of the carbon tax. But Bill C-234 is another important exemption that has already passed in the House of Commons and will bring some desperately needed relief for farmers and all Canadians.”
Premier Dog Ford says in a letter to Ontario senators, “This legislation would help farmers in Ontario and across Canada by lowering their costs, which would help lower the grocery bills of hardworking families in need of extra support right now.”
His letter goes on to say, “Families in our province are counting on the senators who represent them to ensure Ontario is treated fairly and to respect the clear will of the House of Commons.”
Federal Enviroment Minister Steven Guilbeault has said the government won’t support more carve outs of the carbon tax.