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Ag in the House: Dec. 2 – 6

Ag in the House: Dec. 2 – 6
Dec 09, 2024
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

The Conservatives continued to call for the end of the carbon tax

During question period on Dec. 2, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pointed to increased costs “after the prime minister brought in a carbon tax on the truckers and farmers…” as a reason for long lines at food banks.

He then asked when the Liberals would remove the carbon tax.

Jenna Sudds, the minister of families, responded by highlighting measures the government has taken to reduce food bank usage.

Lianne Rood, the Conservative MP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, also pointed to the carbon tax and its effect on Canadians.

The Liberals “still do not understand that, if they tax the farmer who grows the food and tax the trucker who ships the food, they are taxing the families who then buy the food,” she said while asking for an election.

Government House Leader Karina Gould didn’t answer the question, instead choosing to say the government will continue to deliver for Canadians.

On Dec. 4, Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet used Bill C-282 still not receiving royal assent as an example of the government’s priorities being out of order.

The prime minister “says he is in favour of supply management, and yet he is not doing what he needs to do to ensure the passage of our bill protecting supply management,” Blanchet said.

Prime Minister Trudeau responded saying his government will continue to be a partner with the Bloc.

On Dec. 5, the Bloc kept up its pressure regarding Bill C-282.

Alain Therrien, the MP for La Prairie, asked if party leaders would tell senators to pass the bill before Christmas.

House Leader Karina Gould’s response reminded the House that the Liberals support the bill and “the entire caucus have spoken with senators to and asked them to do their job,” she said, while also saying the Conservatives are divided on supply management.

John Barlow, the Conservative ag critic, repeated the points that taxing farmers and truckers creates higher food costs, and cited a report indicating grocery prices and food inflation is up.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s response said Barlow’s interpretation of the report is inaccurate.

On Dec. 6, Tracy Gray, the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country, told the House that raising the carbon tax on farmers and truckers means higher food costs for families, and asked the Liberals to cancel the tax.

Ryan Turnbull, the parliamentary secretary to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, replied by saying the carbon tax is about 15 cents on a $100 bill.


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