For the past 18 months, pandemic-related policy discussions have absorbed much of the federal government's attention. As the country shifts to focus on economic recovery in the years ahead, agriculture has a critical place in those conversations as a key driver of economic growth and employment.
CCGA's Ottawa-based Government Relations (GR) team has been focused on advocating on policy issues that will help canola farmers and the canola sector prosper in the future, including business risk management and the next agricultural policy framework; market access and trade diversification; the Clean Fuel Regulation; efficient approval processes of crop protection products and seed varieties; and the Canada Grain Act review.
Climate change remains a key federal government priority and they have introduced several ambitious policies to reduce carbon emissions. CCGA has been ensuring that Government, Members of Parliament (MPs), Senators, and other decision-makers know about canola's farmers' hard work and sustainability efforts, as well as what's important to them and the challenges they face. Dave Carey, CCGA's Vice-President, Government & Industry Relations, co-chairs the Agriculture Carbon Alliance, a national coalition of industry-wide farm organizations formed to help mitigate the impact of carbon pricing for farmers, and to advocate at the intersection of agricultural and environmental public policy making.
CCGA closely follows the legislative process of relevant bills and parliamentary committee work. In 2021, CCGA has sent 13 departmental submissions and 7 briefs to parliamentary committees and has testified three times at committees. We have sent letters of support for Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel), and Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation) to MPs and Senators. Bill C-208 has received Royal Assent and is now law, which means farmers will now be taxed fairly when selling their business to the next generation.
Even at the height of summer, CCGA continues to engage with Ministerial offices and key policy makers — including the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, as well as senior advisors for the Ministers of Economic Development, Rural Economic Development, and Environment and Climate Change — to ensure farmers' priorities are recognized at the Cabinet table. Activities are planned and meetings are scheduled for the fall, whether in-person or continuing virtually. Always agile and prepared to seize every opportunity, CCGA's GR team advocates on behalf of canola farmers to ensure that your voices are heard, and your hard work is recognized.