Farmers Forum staff
OTTAWA — A private member’s bill to exempt grain-drying and barn-heating from the Trudeau government carbon tax will proceed to third and final vote in the House of Commons — but with an added amendment. The carbon tax exemption will expire in 8 years unless parliamentarians pass a resolution to extend it at that time.
The standing committee on agriculture amended Bill C-234 to include the 8-year sunset clause and sent it back to the Commons for a vote that is now much less likely to occur before Christmas.
Jason Tucker, policy director in the office of the bill’s sponsor, MP Ben Lobb (CON – Huron), said the bill is now set for a Feb. 8 vote in the Commons, though it’s “not impossible” time slots could be traded to achieve the vote earlier, which might yet include a possible pre-Christmas vote.
The bill does appear to have the support of a majority of parliamentarians across all opposition parties.
If passed by MPs, the bill would then go to the Senate, which is expected to pass the bill.
