Current Issues

Policy issues we're currently working on

As the national policy voice for Canada’s 40,000 canola farmers, CCGA enhances farm competitiveness by conducting in-depth policy analysis and advocating for policy, regulatory, and legislative changes that impact farm profitability.

While our advocacy efforts cover five broad policy areas, here are the current issues that require our immediate focus and attention:

Quick links

Key Policy Areas

Advocacy Priorities

Submissions & Appearances

1. Capital Gains

On June 25, the federal government increased the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 66% for corporations and trusts. According to Grain Growers of Canada, this tax increase is estimated to cost family-run grain farms 30% more in taxes when selling their land.

CCGA is working with other agriculture organizations to communicate the negative impacts of this change to the federal government and advocate for alternative options.

Express your concern with this recent tax change and ask your Member of Parliament to support exempting intergenerational transfers from this tax increase.

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2. Bill C-234

Currently, farmers pay a carbon price for using natural gas and propane for essential farming activities like grain drying and heating or cooling barns. With no viable alternatives, carbon surcharges pull capital from farmers, making it harder for them to reinvest in their farm operations.

Bill C-234 seeks to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to natural gas and propane. Once passed, the legislation would provide significant financial relief to farmers and would free up working capital to invest in innovations that can have environmental benefits while remaining competitive and profitable.

For example, findings from ACA’s #ShowYourReceipts campaign showed that 50 sample farm operations paid a total of $329,644 for one month in 2023 in carbon tax. That figure is projected to nearly triple over the next seven years to a significant $893,944 by 2030, illustrating the compounding financial pressure as carbon tax rates increase over time.

The Senate passed an amended version of Bill C-234, sending it back to the House of Commons. Agriculture Carbon Alliance members, including CCGA, encourage the House of Commons to reject the amendments and support Bill C-234 in its original form.

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3. Extended Interswitching

Canada’s extensive railway network is dominated by two Class 1 freight rail operators, CN and CPKC. Extended interswitching is one of the only ways to inject competition into this system. Today, 97% of licensed primary elevators on the Prairies are located on a single rail line, leaving them captive to service from only one rail network. The extended interswitching pilot gives captive shippers the ability to seek competing service from the next closest railway if they are located within the 160km radius. Under the pilot, 70% of Prairie elevators are eligible for extended interswitching.

How does this impact farmers? At times, farmers are unable to deliver crop because their elevator is filled to capacity and awaiting railcars. Captive shipping situations can limit the ability for inland elevators to receive deliveries from farmers, which in turn restricts farmers’ ability to sell and be paid for their product. If delays persist, it can also affect the price a farmer receives for their crop if prices shift unfavourably.

The current extended interswitching pilot announced in the federal government’s 2023 budget is set to expire at the end of March 2025. The Flip the Switch coalition, which includes CCGA, has been calling for an extension of the pilot by an additional 30 months.

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