Approval of Bill C-49 is welcome news for western farmers

May 24, 2018

OTTAWA – Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Ron Bonnett issued the following statement following yesterday’s announcement that the Transportation Modernization Act has received final approval in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

“The Canadian Federation of Agriculture commends parliamentarians for working together to pass Bill C-49, a critical piece of legislation that will alleviate many of western farmers’ concerns on rail transportation.

Grain farmers have struggled through years of uncertainty and financial losses due to transportation delays beyond their control. As spring planting nears completion, they can now turn their attention toward delivering their next crop – this time with more tools to manage their rail shipping options.

CFA wishes to thank Transport Minister Marc Garneau, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, and all parliamentarians for making this bill a priority in recent months. This legislation demonstrates the commitment of MPs and Senators to supporting Canada’s agriculture sector.

CFA looks forward to working with federal officials toward implementation of the Act, ensuring a robust and reliable rail transportation system that farmers can depend on.”

Source : Canadian Federation of Agriculture

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Before trade and tariffs dominated the conversation, taxation was one of the biggest issues on farmers’ minds last year. From the carbon tax to capital gains, OFA worked with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and provincial partners to push for fair, practical solutions. We saw progress on carbon tax relief and capital gains, and we continue to advocate for modernized farm tax programs at both the provincial and federal levels.

OFA works to represent the interests of Ontario farmers to all levels of government. Renew your Farm Business Registration (FBR) by March 1/26 and choose OFA so we can continue to support Ontario farmers and their businesses.