Farmers frustrated with federal decision to move forward with carbon tax increase amid pandemic

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government will move forward with its plan to increase the carbon tax to $30 per tonne from $20 on April 1.

The statement comes after he didn’t offer a clear answer to reporters during a press conference on March 27.

“We know that we need to do things to make sure that we’re both supporting families through ordinary times and through difficult times and moving forward on continuing the fight against climate change, which remains even at a time of immediate crisis and pandemic,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister added the rebate will offer Canadians another stream of income, as many are unable to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farmers in Western Canada have been fighting the carbon tax since it was implemented.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) said farmers lost about eight per cent of their income from the tax last year.

“We have to pay that tax and there is no way to pass that along through our commodity prices. We’re on a world market and you can’t add two per cent on the price of your wheat because of carbon tax,” APAS president Todd Lewis said.

However, it isn’t clear how the price of oil will play a factor on farmers income in 2020.

On March 30, oil prices fell eight per cent.

Producers are frustrated by the decision given the current state of the economy.

“To raise a tax when we really don’t know what is going to happen … you know, look at what has happened in the last two weeks,” Jason Hennes said.

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The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) said the bump is a funny way to say thank you to essential businesses like grocers and farmers.

“As governments work to help Canadians get through economic challenges, minimizing the tax burden must be a central element,” federal director Aaron Wudrick said.

B.C.’s provincial government is delaying its bump from $40 to $45, which was planned to change this week.

The Supreme Court of Canada postponed Saskatchewan’s carbon tax appeal, which was originally set for last week.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

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