Leger surveyed more than 1,500 Canadians on this issue
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A recent survey found a majority of Canadians support removing the carbon tax on natural gas and propane for farmers.
Leger, on behalf of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), polled 1,519 adults between May 19 and 24, asking them this question related to Bill C-234.
“Federal MPs are considering legislation to take the carbon tax off natural gas and propane used on farms. The federal government doesn’t collect carbon taxes for gasoline and diesel used in agriculture, but farmers pay carbon taxes on natural gas and propane used to heat barns and dry grain. Do you support taking the carbon tax off natural gas and propane for farmers?”
39 per cent of respondents strongly support the exemption for farmers while 31 per cent somewhat support it – resulting in 70 per cent of those surveyed in favour of the break for producers.
“The poll is clear: the vast majority of Canadians want the government to get farmers relief from the carbon tax,” Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director, said in a statement. “Canadians know that keeping costs down for farmers helps lower costs at the grocery store for all of us.”
The results also showed that 15 per cent of respondents don’t support the exemption, and another 15 per cent aren’t sure where they stand on the issue.
Bill C-234 in its original form passed its third reading in the House of Commons in March 2023.
That December, senators passed an amended version of the bill that removes the propane and natural gas exemption and reduces an eight-year sunset clause to three years.
The bill has been returned to the House of Commons, but MPs haven’t brought it up for debate again.
Refusing to provide this relief for farmers could have significant effects.
The Parliamentary Budget Office reports that an unamended Bill C-234 could save farmers almost $1 billion by 2030.