The following resolutions were passed during Keystone Agricultural Producers' Spring Advisory Council Meeting held Thursday in Portage la Prairie:
Cash Ticket Deferrals
Whereas, The Government of Canada has announced that they are considering eliminating the ability of farmers to defer cash tickets to the following tax year; and
Whereas, Cash ticket deferral is a management tool that farmers can use to mitigate risk and balance tax loads from one year to the next; and
Whereas, Use of cash ticket deferrals provides for a constant supply of product;
now, therefore, be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Canada to maintain the current system of allowing cash ticket deferrals.
Carbon Tax
Be it Resolved, THAT KAP reaffirm its current position on carbon pricing as a means of ensuring Manitoba producers remain competitive.
Carbon Tax
Whereas, Farmers do not have the ability to pass on additional taxes through the marketplace; and
Whereas, Farmers in Manitoba have seen a significant increase in property taxes (municipal and education); and
Whereas, It is still unknown how Manitoba plans to roll out the new carbon pricing policy;
now, therefore, be it Resolved, THAT KAP continue to gather information on carbon pricing as needed to ensure carbon pricing costs can be recovered or exempt to allow Manitoba farmers to stay competitive with other provinces and international trading partners and to ensure Manitoba farmers and the agriculture
Carbon Tax
Whereas, Manitoba farmers do not have the ability to pass additional taxes or costs on to the end user; and
Whereas, Manitoba farmers want to be part of the solution to climate change and continue to be good stewards of the land; and
Whereas, Manitoba farmers want to pay their share of any carbon tax as a consumer and not as an industry;
now, therefore, be it Resolved, THAT KAP review any and all additional options pertaining to the carbon tax including a GST style approach which would recover the carbon tax on pass through and downstream costs (including emissions related to growing crops or raising livestock and poultry) and be a line item on invoices for all agricultural products.
Grain Movement
Be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Canada to review CP rail’s movement performance in Manitoba.
AgriInvest
Be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Manitoba and the Government of Canada to increase AgriInvest matchable deposits to 3% and to allow up to 2% additional non-matchable tax deductible contributions.
Producer Protection for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – Vegetable Growers
Whereas, On March 22nd, 2017, Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products entered into receivership, resulting in a significant amount left owing to the producers who had delivered products to the company; and
Whereas, The remaining assets of the company will not cover the secured debt, which will leave the producers unable to recover any of the amounts owed to them; and
Whereas, In the United States, under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), producers of fruits and vegetables are eligible to participate in the PACA trust; and,
Whereas, The PACA trust ensures that in the case of a business failure or bankruptcy, the debtor’s trust assets are not available for general distribution to other creditors until all valid trust claims have been satisfied; and,
Whereas, The PACA trust ensures that producers/suppliers that file for trust protection have a far greater chance of recovering money owed to them when a buyer goes out of business; and,
Whereas, The Government of Canada has committed to establishing a comparable Canadian mechanism to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) in the United States;
now, therefore, be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Manitoba to apply pressure on the Government of Canada to follow through on their commitment to establish a Canadian trust similar to the trust established by the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act in the United States.
Excess Moisture Insurance Deductible
Whereas, The Excess Moisture Insurance (EMI) deductible applies to whole farm acres; and
Whereas, Farmers who work hard to plant their land should have the deductible apply to non-seeded acres;
now, therefore, be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation to change the EMI deductible to apply only to unseeded acres.
Saskatchewan Drainage
Be it Resolved, THAT KAP lobby the Government of Manitoba to work with the Government of Saskatchewan on water drainage policies in order to reduce negative impacts on agriculture and infrastructure.
Source : Steinbachonline