Canola sector tops environment lobbying in March with Net-Zero concerns

Canada’s canola industry took the lead in environmental advocacy in March, partly to address how that sector will fit into Ottawa’s target of reducing nitrogen emissions by 30 per cent by the end of the decade. “There’s an emission target put out there, and so growers would be concerned, naturally. They need to be able to have access to the nitrogen, but at the same time be able to do it in a way that we reduce emissions. It's just having that dialogue about how we might be able to achieve both of those goals,” said Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “What we're saying here is, yes, we are committed to working towards reducing nitrogen emissions … but at the same time, a goal of the industry and the government is to be sure that we're providing healthy vegetable oil to the rest of the world.” The environment was the most common subject in federal lobbying in March, appearing in 479 communication reports, according to a search of the federal lobbyists’ registry on April 20. Economic development followed closely behind with 474 communication reports, and the subject of health appeared in 438. The canola industry was the most prominent in environmental lobbying that month, with the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) contributing 19 communication reports related to the environment, and the CCC contributing 12. According to Everson, the CCC’s lobbying activity in March included discussions about a discussion paper released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on March 4, which outlines the Liberal government’s plan to reduce nitrogen emissions from nitrogen fertilizer use at farms to 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. Agriculture was responsible for approximately 10 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, or 73 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and emissions from synthetic fertilizers accounted for 12.75 million tonnes, according to the discussion paper. “The fertilizer emission target is ambitious, but achievable. It is intended to build upon the sector’s work to date, and increase adoption of region- and farm-specific approaches that will reverse the trend of rising emissions arising from fertilizer use while maintaining the sector’s competitiveness and Canada’s reputation as a top producer and exporter of quality crops,” said the discussion paper. “To a large extent, the required technologies and practices already exist. It is now a question of how to increase their use, identify and address any challenges or shortcomings, and ensure that farmers have the knowledge and support required to do so.” The CCC and the CCGA participated in a town hall meeting on April 12, organized by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to discuss the emissions reduction target, and hear presentations by representatives of Agriculture, according to an April 13 press release. The two canola organizations argued at the town hall meeting that Canada’s nitrogen emissions target should focus on emissions reduction, but not on nitrogen use reduction, because of how nitrogen fertilizer contributes to canola productivity. Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada, says 'canola is really dependent on nitrogen fertility.' Photograph courtesy of Jim Everson “Nitrogen fertilizer is really important to canola production, and not all commodities are the same. Some commodities don't require as much nitrogen use, but canola is really dependent on nitrogen fertility,” said Everson. “Food security is a big issue these days. Canola farmers require access to nitrogen in order to keep exporting canola to markets around the world. We want to communicate that and work with the government to determine how we can, on the one hand, make nitrogen and other fertilizers accessible to the grower, and at the same time contribute to emissions reductions.” Advocacy for the CCC last month included communications with Conservative Shadow Minister for international trade Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, Sask.) on March 15 and March 28, and with Conservative Shadow Minister for agriculture and agri-food John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) on March 21. About 90 per cent of canola grown in Canada is exported, according to Everson. “The world is highly reliant on vegetable oils from Canada … and we want to be sure that farmers have access to nitrogen fertilizer to be able to produce it, while at the same time addressing this challenge,” he said. Advocacy discussions between the canola industry and designated public office holders were also high in March because of the upcoming federal budget, and the approaching start to the growing season, according to Dave Carey, CCGA’s vice-president of government and industry relations. There is currently no representation from the agriculture sector on Canada’s Net-Zero advisory body, and farmers want to ensure they are not overlooked in discussions about emissions reductions and climate change, according to Carey. The Net-Zero advisory body, announced in February 2021, is mandated with identifying actions that can be taken to achieve net-zero emissions, while maintaining support for economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory body includes co-chairs Marie-Pierre Ippersiel, president and CEO of PRIMA Québec, and Dr. Dan Wicklum, the CEO of The Transition Accelerator, a pan-Canadian charitable organization that convenes industry, research groups and other stakeholders to advance the goal of net-zero emissions. Dave Carey, vice-president of government and industry relations for the Canadian Canola Growers Association, says the federal government's environmental policies will 'be better operationalized if farm groups are at the table.' Photograph courtesy of LinkedIn “We've seen the federal government come out with its emissions reduction plan for agriculture, and a number of other things where almost every sort of file we're discussing right now has the environmental lens to it,” said Carey. “We've really spent a lot of time leading up to the budget engaging and really making the case that we want a seat at the table. I think a lot of the environmental programs and policies the government’s rolling out will work better and be better operationalized if farm groups are at the table.” Also contributing to environmental discussions in March was the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), which filed 16 communication reports related to the environment, the registry shows. CIAC’s environment discussions in March mainly revolved around Canada’s net-zero emissions targets, and Canada’s planned transition to a national circular plastics economy, according to Bob Masterson, CIAC’s president and CEO. Masterson estimates that for Canada to reach its net-zero emissions targets by 2030 will require a $300-billion investment to modify or build the necessary infrastructure in the chemical industry, and Canada therefore needs to take steps to become attractive to industry investment. Bob Masterson, president and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), says his organization is asking the federal government 'to make the conditions so that the industry will invest in Canada.' Photograph courtesy of CIAC“The industry, in Canada and globally, is committed to these transformations. They will take place, but they'll take place in the jurisdictions that make it the right place to invest,” said Masterson. “We're asking to make the conditions so that the industry will invest in Canada.” Masterson said that the 2022 federal budget included several measures with the potential to attract investments for the net-zero and circular economy transformation of Canada’s chemistry and plastics sector. The budget included a Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Investment Tax Credit, with a minimum 37.5 per cent inclusion rate for transport infrastructure, 50 per cent inclusion rate on CCUS equipment, and 60 per cent for direct air capture. The budget also proposed $1-billion over six years towards Innovation for the Strategic Innovation Fund, and $750-million over six years to re-capitalize the existing Global Innovation Clusters program. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Que.) was the top-lobbied minister in March, and appeared in 35 communication reports. Following behind was Minister of Innovation François-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice—Champlain, Que), who appeared in 23 communication reports, and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (North Vancouver, B.C.), who appeared in 22. In terms of overall lobbying, the most active organizations in March were the Mortgage Professionals of Canada, which filed 56 communication reports, and the Canadian Nurses Association, which filed 46. UPDATE: A previous version of this story said that the CCC and the CCGA conducted a town hall meeting on April 12. This was edited on April 25 to say that the CCC and the CCGA participated in a town hall meeting on April 12, which was organized by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Top 10 Most Active Lobbying Organizations in March Client, Organization or Corporation Name Communication reports Mortgage Professionals Canada 56 Canadian Nurses Association 46 Canadian Airports Council 38 Canadian Cattlemen's Association 34 Canadian Pacific Railway 33 Canadian Medical Association 30 Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers 26 Canadian Canola Growers Association 26 Grieg Seafood 25 Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada 23 Based on a search of the federal lobbyists’ registry on April 20. Most-lobbied federal ministers in March Federal minister Communication reports Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault 35 Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne 23 Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson 22 President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier 13 Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough 12 Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan Jr. 12 Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault 11 Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau 10 Transport Minister Omar Alghabra 10 Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen 9 Based on a search of the federal lobbyists’ registry on April 20.

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Canola sector tops environment lobbying in March with Net-Zero concerns

Canola organizations are interested in finding ways to reduce emissions without reducing nitrogen use on farms, which is important for canola productivity.

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