British Columbia’s greenhouse vegetable and floriculture growers will receive $7.6 million from the provincial government in carbon tax relief to help maintain their industry.
The province is providing the temporary funding to help mitigate the impact of the carbon tax on the natural gas and propane that greenhouse growers use for heating and carbon dioxide production.
The tax relief is for 2012 only. The province plans to review the carbon tax and its impact on British Columbians.
“The bottom line is B.C. growers will be able to better compete with producers in the U.S. and Mexico as a result of the carbon tax grant,” said B.C. Greenhouse Growers president Peter Cummings.
The province’s greenhouse industry is the second largest in Canada, with 2011 sales of $515 million.
Greenhouse growers pay an estimated $7.6 million annually in carbon tax on fuel and plant production.
B.C.’s greenhouse growers employ 5,500 workers in 480 greenhouses that produce tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, plants and flowers.
Growers eligible for grants must have had 2011 sales greater than $20,000 and use at least 455 metres for commercial production.
