Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I think you'll have support from us on Mr. Perron's proposal.
I also want to move a motion very quickly, colleagues.
I move:
Given that:
a) Seven provincial premiers and 70% of Canadians oppose the government’s 23% carbon tax hike on April Fools’ Day;
b) The premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have issued public letters calling on the government to provide a carbon tax carve-out for farmers and pass Bill C-234 in its original form;
c) The carbon tax currently costs greenhouse operators in Canada $22 million a year and will pay between $82 million and $100 million by 2030 when the carbon tax quadruples;
d) 44% of fresh fruit and vegetables growers are already selling at a loss and 77% can’t offset production cost increase;
e) The Parliamentary Budget Officer has stated the carbon tax will cost farmers nearly $1 billion by 2030;
f) The 2023 Food Price Report estimates that the carbon tax will cost a typical 5,000-acre farm $150,000 by 2030; and
g) The “Food Professor” recommends pausing the carbon tax for the entire food supply chain,
The committee call on the government to restore affordability and spike the carbon tax hike on April 1.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.