Pierre Poilievre asked if the government would cut taxes to provide farmers relief
During question period on Nov. 2, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked the government if it would cut taxes to provide farmers and Canadians with relief from high fuel prices.
“The Liberal government is out of touch,” he said. “Yes, the farmers in my riding say the single biggest expense this year is the cost of diesel. Some of them are spending $25,000 or $30,000 on diesel.”
The response from Wayne Long, the secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency, hyped up the tabling of the Nov. 5 budget.
On Nov. 5, Tony Baldinelli, the Conservative MP for Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, wanted government assurances on a program for grape growers facing uncertainty.
“Will the government commit to extending the Wine Sector Support Program to provide the certainty our grape growers and wineries so badly need?” he asked.
Daniel Gobeil, the parliamentary secretary to Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, told the House in response the government would be there to support “all producers in value-added sectors.”
The 2026 budget includes funding for the program.
The federal government set aside $176.9 million over three years beginning in 2027-2028.
While mentions of ag were sparse last week, MPs brought up farming issues during other House activity.
On Nov. 3, for example, Jenny Kwan, the NDP MP for Vancouver East, sponsored a petition directed at Minister MacDonald.
The petition calls for the federal government, through the minister, to amend the Dairy Cattle Code of Practice “to prohibit the separation of cows from their calves any less than six (6) months after the calf’s birth, and enforce compliance with this standard.”