Few people work harder than Canadian farmers. Every day, agricultural producers across our county are busy growing premium food for all of us to enjoy and share with the world. Even as inflation drives costs higher than ever, our farmers are doing everything they can to keep costs low so Canadians can continue to enjoy nutritious, sustainable, home-grown products.
Our agriculture sectors have been making consistent strides in environmental sustainability long before Liberal public policy implementation and failures. We cannot let them force reduction plans on farmers in the future, harming our already exhausted industry. The greenhouse gas emissions in Canada due to agriculture are just 8% of Canada’s total GHG emissions, which is less than 2% of total global GHG emissions. By contrast, the global average of emissions from agriculture is 26%, demonstrating the incredible success and dedication of Canadian farmers to environmental preservation.
Instead of giving these hardworking Canadians their thanks, the Liberal government is demonizing farmers and attacking one of their primary tools – fertilizer.
The Trudeau Liberals recently outlined their plan to reduce Canada’s fertilizer emissions by 30% by 2030. Unfortunately, this costly, unscientific scheme couldn’t come at a worse time for Canadian agriculture or consumers.
Farmers are still reeling from the impacts the war in Ukraine has had on fertilizer supply, and according to financial experts, the Liberals’ target could lead to $48 billion in losses. To top it off, farmers are still stuck with the carbon tax which has jacked up the cost of doing business and made operating a farm more difficult.
The reality is that Canadian farmers are already outperforming the entire world on sustainability. Our producers have made incredible strides in delivering the food Canadians need, while protecting the environment. In fact, Canadian farmers are already up to 70% more efficient in fertilizer use than other countries.
Rather than praising Canadian farmers as the global standard, the Liberals are insulting producers with activist policies which not only harm economic sustainability, but also their world-leading environmental stewardship.
Arbitrary restrictions on fertilizer will lead to greater challenges for farmers, higher prices for Canadians, and less of our high-quality food being shared with the world. Food prices have increased more than 10% over last year, and these avoidable increases will hurt regular Canadians who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Food security is a global priority and Canada plays a substantial role in feeding the world as we export 80% of what we produce. The Liberal government’s fertilizer and carbon tax policies will impact Canada’s ability to export nutritious and affordable food to destinations in the world that desperately need our support.
I encourage everyone to sign e-Petition 4133, sponsored by John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-food, and Food Security. It was brought forward by a PEI farmer calling on the Liberal government to abandon their aggressive emissions target and protect our industry from the threat of the implementation of a mandatory fertilizer reduction. I ask you to please sign this petition and encourage those around you to as well. This policy impacts every single one of us, particularly our hardworking farmers, our agri-food sector and families struggling with the cost of living.
The Liberals must stop punishing farmers and immediately cancel their ridiculous fertilizer reduction target.
Sincerely,
Cathay Wagantall, MP
Yorkton—Melville