Bill C-206 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel)

This bill is from the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2021.

Sponsor

Philip Lawrence  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Second reading (Senate), as of June 23, 2021
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane.

Similar bills

C-234 (44th Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
S-215 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (farming exemptions)
C-206 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-206s:

C-206 (2021) An Act to amend the National Defence Act (maiming or injuring self or another)
C-206 (2015) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (abuse of vulnerable persons)
C-206 (2013) An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (pension and benefits)

Votes

June 23, 2021 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel)
Feb. 24, 2021 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel)

Debate Summary

line drawing of robot

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-206 seeks to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to include natural gas and propane in the list of qualifying farming fuels, exempting them from the carbon tax.

Conservative

  • Extend fuel tax exemption: The bill aims to extend the existing carbon tax exemption for gasoline and diesel to include natural gas and propane used by farmers.
  • Tax hurts farm profits: The carbon tax imposes significant, non-neutral costs on farmers, reducing profitability and threatening livelihoods as they cannot pass costs to consumers.
  • Farmers are environmental stewards: Farmers are environmental leaders; agriculture is already carbon neutral, acting as a significant carbon sink through crops planted.
  • Support farm competitiveness: Removing the tax burden is necessary to maintain farmer profitability, enhance competitiveness against global markets, and ensure Canadian food security.

NDP

  • Supports bill C-206: The NDP supports the bill at second reading, believing its principle is sound and it deserves committee examination.
  • Exempts farm fuels: The bill adds natural gas and propane to the list of qualifying farm fuels, exempting them from the federal carbon tax when used for farming purposes.
  • Needed for grain drying: Farmers depend on these fossil fuels for essential tasks like grain drying, especially with changing climate patterns and a lack of viable alternatives.
  • Broader discussion on farm costs: While the bill offers measurable benefits, the party hopes it can broaden the discussion on other financial pressures facing Canadian farmers, such as farm debt.

Bloc

  • Supports Bill C-206: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-206 to exempt propane and natural gas used by farmers from the federal carbon tax.
  • Farmers rely on fuels: Farmers depend on propane and natural gas for essential tasks like drying grain and currently lack viable, affordable alternatives.
  • Tax targets wrong group: The carbon tax unfairly burdens farmers, who are already affected by climate change, while the government fails to target major polluters effectively.

Liberal

  • Supports carbon pricing policy: The party supports pollution pricing as the most effective and efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.
  • Existing farm fuel relief: Farmers already receive significant relief under the current act for gasoline and diesel used in eligible farming activities like operating equipment.
  • Bill may not help grain drying: Members note that the bill adds natural gas and propane but does not add grain drying as an eligible activity, potentially failing its goal.
  • Cautious about exemptions: The party is cautious about creating industry-specific exemptions, fearing it could undermine the carbon pricing system and lead to further requests.
Was this summary helpful and accurate?

Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing ActPrivate Members' Business

February 24th, 2021 / 6:50 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)