Legislation to exempt natural gas use on farms from carbon pricing focus of environment-heavy April lobbying

Advocacy related to the environment led in federal lobbying for the third straight month in April, with discussions surrounding a game-changing private member’s bill—which would remove the federal carbon tax from natural gas and propane used on farms—taking centre stage. Environmental lobbying grabbed the top spot in April with the subject appearing in 504 communication reports, based on a search of the federal lobbyists’ registry on May 18. Following behind in April was health-related lobbying, which was listed in 388 communication reports, and economic development, listed in 349. This continued a trend of environmental discussions dominating in federal lobbying, with environment also emerging as the most discussed subject in March (appearing in 575 communication reports that month), and February (682 reports). A major focus of environment discussions in April was Bill C-234, an act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. The bill, sponsored by Conservative MP Ben Lobb (Huron-Bruce, Ont.) passed third reading in the House on March 29 with a vote of 176-146, and is currently at second reading in the Senate. If the bill receives royal assent, it would amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to exempt the natural gas and propane used on farms — such as for irrigation, grain drying, and heating or cooling of barns — from the federal carbon price. Discussing the bill was a big part of the advocacy activities in April for the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), according to Deb Conlon, the organization’s director of government relations, in an interview with The Hill Times on May 17. Deb Conlon, director of government relations for the Grain Farmers of Ontario, says 'there are no alternatives to natural gas and propane, and farmers are paying the pollution price on natural gas purchases' to dry their grain. Photograph courtesy of Deb Conlon “We want to see pass, because right now there are no alternatives to natural gas and propane, and farmers are paying the pollution price on natural gas purchases to dry the grain and they can’t pass that on,” said Conlon. “In order to keep grain safe—just like if you were going to put some food away—it needs to be dry, and there aren't any alternatives .” The GFO, which represents about 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers in the province according to its website, led environmental advocacy in April with 44 communication reports filed related to that subject. When combined with communication reports listing other subjects, such as agriculture, the GFO filed a total of 61 communication reports for activity in April. This level of activity resulted in the GFO leading as the most-active lobbying organization for the month, ahead of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, which filed 53 communication reports, and the Breakfast Club of Canada, which filed 46. During harvest time, grain typically is wet as it is removed from the damp soil, according to Conlon. “In order to put the grain away for storage, or to transport it, you need to dry it. You have to bring down the moisture from the grain that's taken off the ground,” she said. “It would be nice to see pass sooner than later. If it passed sooner, then farmers wouldn't have to pay this fall. Regardless of when it gets passed, it's something that we've been working on for a number of years.” Last month, lobbying activity for the GFO included communications with Liberal MP Francis Drouin (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ont.), the parliamentary secretary to Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead, Que.), and Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow (Foothills, Alta.) on April 17, and with ISG Senator Pat Duncan (Yukon) and Conservative Senator Victor Oh (Ontario) who are members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The GFO’s representation on the registry includes Conlon, as well as vice-president Paul Hoekstra and policy adviser Allison Hessels. Also discussing Bill C-234 in April was the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), which represents about 60,000 beef farms and feedlots across Canada. The CCA filed 23 communication reports last month related to the environment, which placed the association in third-place for environment-related lobbying for the month. Jennifer Babcock, the CCA’s senior director of government and public affairs, told The Hill Times that Bill C-234 is often thought of as the “grain drying bill,” but it has larger implications across agriculture. As an example, she said the machines that break down food for farm animals are powered by natural gas and propane, according to Babcock. Jennifer Babcock, the senior director of government and public affairs for the Canadian Cattle Association, says Bill C-234 'is going to help all of agriculture at large,' and within the livestock sector helps with the heating and cooling of barns. Photograph courtesy of Jennifer Babcock “ is going to help all of agriculture at large, and within the livestock sector it helps on the feeding side of the industry along with heating and cooling of barns,” she said. “It goes so much beyond that, with irrigation support and helping protect the environments and landscapes as well.” Babcock said that she would love to see the bill passed before the Senate breaks for the summer in June, otherwise the legislation will have to wait until the fall. “I know farmers across the country are watching this, and with inflation costs and the conversation around food security … let's give farmers a break here and keep growing food in Canada and see a little bit of relief come in,” she said. During April, the CCA also discussed other topics with public office holders, such as the environmental benefits of beef cattle production, and how the beef cattle industry can work with the federal government on emission reduction goals, according to Babcock. The CCA communicated with members of the House agriculture committee, including committee chair and Liberal MP Kody Blois (Kings-Hants, N.S.), Liberal MP Tim Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga, Ont.), and Conservative MP Lianne Rood (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Ont.). The CCA is represented on the registry by Babcock, as well as general manager Ryder Lee and government relations co-ordinator Myra Altwasser. Coming in second in April for environment advocacy was International Boreal Conservation Campaign (via contract with Ducks Unlimited Canada), which filed 29 communication reports related to the environment. International Boreal Conservation Campaign (IBCC) works in conjunction with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) to support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, with Ducks Unlimited Canada as a partner. The focus of the IBCC’s communications in April included outreach related to the National Guardians Gathering, which was held in Ottawa on May 9, as well as the National First Nations Guardians Network (which co-sponsored the National Gathering in partnership with ILI), and support to get planning underway among Indigenous, territorial, and federal governments related to a potential conservation project in the Northwest Territories, according to Kevin Smith, the national manager of boreal programs for Ducks Unlimited Canada, in an email to The Hill Times on May 17. The organization communicated with Nicole Cote, director general of Canadian Wildlife Service for Environment and Climate Change Canada, on April 13, April 19, and April 20. The IBCC is represented on the registry by consultants including Valérie Courtois, director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, and independent consultant Melody Morrison. Jcnockaert@hilltimes.com Top Environment Lobby Organizations (April) OrganizationCommunication reportsGrain Farmers of Ontario44International Boreal Conservation Campaign (via contract with Ducks Unlimited Canada)29Canadian Cattle Association23Trans Canada Trail18Environmental Defence Canada16Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada15David Suzuki Foundation13Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers12Capital Power Corporation11Canadian Canola Growers Association10 The above table shows the organizations which filed the most communication reports in April with ‘environment’ listed as a subject matter for discussion. Information courtesy of the federal lobbyists’ registry. Top Overall Lobbying Organizations (April) OrganizationCommunication reportsGrain Farmers of Ontario61Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada53Breakfast Club of Canada46Canadian Chamber of Commerce45Canadian Cancer Society43Canadian Dental Association35Trans Canada Trail34Canadian Cattle Association30International Boreal Conservation Campaign (via contract with Ducks Unlimited Canada)29University of Victoria25 The above table shows the most active organizations in federal lobbying in April. Information courtesy of the federal lobbyists’ registry.

Legislation to exempt natural gas use on farms from carbon pricing focus of environment-heavy April lobbying

A priority for environment-related lobbying in April was Bill C-234, which would amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to exempt the natural gas and propane used on farms.

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