Bill C-234 ping pongs between Senate and House

Canola growers must identify at least a little with the quote famously attributed to Yogi Berra: It’s déjà vu all over again.

At this time last year, they were among the many farmers hoping for Bill C-234 to pass and provide exemptions from carbon pricing for natural gas and propane used to dry grain.

Other stories in the Canola Yearbook 2024:

They are still waiting.

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The bill had a somewhat tortuous journey through the Senate last fall. It was amended at committee to remove barns and greenhouses from the bill. That amendment was later defeated on the Senate floor, and then reintroduced along with other changes.

It was so bogged down in process and delay that some thought it would never return to the House of Commons.

The debate was rancorous and there were accusations of bullying and intimidation by some senators.

The bill finally did pass third reading in the Senate on Dec. 12, although without an exemption for barns and greenhouses and limited to three years instead of eight.

But then came other delays.

The Conservatives tried to move the bill through Parliament before the Christmas break but failed. It wouldn’t return until the end of January.

Senator Rob Black, chair of the agriculture committee, said last December he wasn’t proud of what had happened with C-234.

“We have failed a very important segment of our Canadian population, and I remain concerned that I have not done my job well enough in the chamber as a senator representing agriculture in Canada,” he said at the time.

He declared the amended bill severely flawed but added it had to move on.

Since then, the bill has gone nowhere. Conservatives wanted the Senate amendments rejected and it was debated for several hours in the Commons but never brought to a vote.

It was last discussed in June.

In late October, the Canadian Canola Growers Association said during an appearance at the standing committee on agriculture that Bill C-234 should be passed as amended.

“As co-chair of the Agriculture Carbon Alliance, a coalition of 16 national farm groups, we are disappointed to see the Senate amend Bill C-234,” said Dave Carey, vice-president of government and industry relations.

“That being said, the amended bill does provide relief to farmers and ranchers through exemptions for grain drying, irrigation and feed preparation, for which there are no viable alternatives.”

He said the bill should pass at the next opportunity.

Carey said if the House rejected the Senate amendments and returned it to the upper chamber, it would be amended again.

“We’d end up in a protracted game of ping pong between the two chambers,” he said.

“Farmers need the relief now. It’s been challenging with the capital gains changes, with a number of other issues, so canola growers are supportive of moving the amended bill forward as soon as is possible in the parliamentary schedule.”

The capital gains changes announced in Budget 2024, which took effect in June, are a concern because the inclusion rate has gone up. The rate is 50 per cent on the first $250,000 but two-thirds on amounts after that.

There is concern this affects intergenerational farm transfers, and farm organizations continue to call for the 50 per cent rate to be used for farmers.

Another holdover from 2023 is Bill C-282, the legislative amendments that would protect supply managed sectors in trade negotiations. The CCGA is among the organizations arguing the bill shouldn’t pass.

Carey appeared at the Senate committee studying the bill in late October and called it an existential threat to Canada’s global trading reputation.

“Let me be clear that this is not an agricultural bill; it will impact every sector of the Canadian economy that relies on trade, both imports and exports. Unfortunately, in the other place, the committee process was expedited for political purposes and only agricultural stakeholders appeared,” he said.

Troy Sherman, senior director of government and industry relations at the Canola Council of Canada, said its opposition to the bill wasn’t a commentary on the value of supply management.

“This is a slippery slope and would fundamentally erode Canada’s trade policy,” he said.

That bill was to undergo clause-by-clause consideration in early November before returning to the Senate for a vote.

The canola industry is involved in numerous committee appearances, submissions and consultations at the federal level.

The CCGA supported Bill C-244 and C294 dealing with right to repair and interoperability.

It offered input on railway labour disruptions, climate change issues and pesticide policies.

One of the current issues is what has become known as the greenwashing bill. The association has written to the government pointing out the provisions in Bill C-59 require transparent and predictable guidance. The bill was passed and received royal assent before organizations could speak to amendments.

The CCGA said the amendments are vague and could undermine public trust.

The letter says farmers understand it is in their best interests to adopt sustainable practices.

“The tremendous progress made by producers when it comes to sustainability on farm deserves to be shared far and wide, but without clarity around these greenwashing provisions it may be difficult to do so and may put the sector at a significant competitive disadvantage,” the letter said.

Next year will likely lead to advocacy and consultation around the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A renegotiation is expected in 2026.

Contact karen.briere@producer.com