With the federal election now in the rearview mirror, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is urging the new Liberal government to act swiftly to address the pressing challenges facing Canadian grain farmers.
“The stakes of this election could not have been higher for grain farmers,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “From rising input costs and global market uncertainty to transportation bottlenecks and regulatory pressures, producers are facing a growing list of challenges that require immediate federal attention.”
To deliver meaningful relief, GGC is looking to Ottawa to reverse the capital gains tax increase, permanently eliminate the carbon tax for on-farm activities, and resolve ongoing trade uncertainty with the US and China.
“The capital gains tax increase and the carbon tax are not abstract issues for farmers,” said Tara Sawyer, Chair of GGC and a grain farmer from Acme, Alberta. “They directly impact whether we can invest in new equipment, transfer the farm on to the next generation, and continue contributing to the economy. We need immediate action to support the continued viability of family-run grain farms.”
Other farm organizations have also weighed in with similar requests from the federal government, including the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).
Key areas where APAS seeks to collaborate with the new government include addressing disruptions in international trade and market access caused by global trade tensions and barriers, strengthening trade infrastructure such as rail, ports, and roads, and enhancing competitiveness within finance and tax policy.
Maintaining free trade between Canada the US, protecting and growing trade opportunities and creating tax fairness for farmers are among several asks from GFO.
