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10:30 a.m. Appointment - Agricultural Service Board
Resolution to the Northwest Regional Agricultural Service Board Conference, Exemption of Natural Gas and Propane for Agriculture under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act
(Susan Schafers, Chairperson Parkland County Agricultural Service Board)
Proposed Motion
That Council supports the Agricultural Service Board Resolution to the Northwest Region Agricultural Service Board Conference: Exemption of Natural Gas and Propane for Agriculture under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration and the Agricultural Service Board supports the motion.
Purpose
To receive the support from Council to bring forward the resolution to the Northwest Regional Agricultural Service Board Conference on behalf of Parkland County and the Agricultural Service Board.
The Agricultural Service Board Act Section 2 indicates the duties of the Agricultural Service Board include but are not limited to:
- To act as an advisory body and to assist the Council and Minister of matters of mutual concern.
- To promoting, enhancing and protecting viable and sustainable agriculture with a view to improve the economic viability of the agricultural producers.
Summary
The Greenhouse Gas Pricing Act currently does not exempt the use of natural gas and propane for agriculture uses. In Parkland County the farmers are impacted with more costs each year, which they are not able to pass to pass those costs on to consumers. The past 2 years have been very wet and drying of grain has become more prevalent. As a result, the use of natural gas has increased which is subject to fuel charges.The fuel charges on natural gas and propane used in the agriculture sector in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario is estimated from 2020-2025 is to cause a loss of $235 Million dollars in revenue for farmers.
RESOLUTION FOR THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD CONFERENCE: EXEMPTION OF NATUR...
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