Finance committee  Yes, I agree that in the essence of being fair, it shouldn't be a regional application. It should be applied [Inaudible—Editor].

Finance committee  To refer to an example from the Agriculture Carbon Alliance, for a medium-sized mushroom farm, it would show a snowballing effect. The tax bill in the month of July was $9,000. In the month of January it will be $14,000, with a total annual cost of $150,000 a year. If you escalate that to dollars per tonne, that can be a significant increase over a period.

Finance committee  I agree 100%.

Finance committee  I'll try to answer that fast. In our farming operation, with houses we might have on vacant property, even though we are going to be exempt, it's an additional cost just shy of $6,000 to file a report. That's for something we're exempt from.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  Yes, that's correct.

Finance committee  Certainly. Thank you for the question. I think it's important to realize the financial burden of this additional tax, combined with inflationary and input costs that have happened and snowballed over the last number of years. When the exemption was first granted on the use of gasoline and diesel, the fuel for grain drying and heating of buildings was omitted.

Finance committee  In closing, I would remind members of the committee of the importance of agriculture to Canada and the global community. Our industry and the work of the entire agricultural food chain not only drive the economy but also provide food to ensure nourishment across the globe. We live in ever-changing times, and science-based decisions are becoming politically motivated.

Finance committee  Good morning. Mr. Chair and honourable committee members, thank you for having me here today to present on behalf of Manitoba farmers for the 2024 federal pre-budget consultations. My name is Jill Verwey. I am president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. I operate a multi-generational mixed farming operation with my husband and children in Portage la Prairie, where we primarily grow 8,000 acres of grain.