On the surface, the Canadian Agriculture Show in Regina last week was full of exciting new equipment, including giant tractors and other heavy-duty tools. But beneath the surface, farmers were voicing serious frustration with the federal government.
In an interview for a CBC special The House With a focus on Saskatchewan politics, farmers spoke about the perception of agriculture in Canada and federal government actions that are making their lives harder.
“People see our tractors and big machines and think farmers don’t care about the environment, but clearly the environment is our No. 1 partner,” grain farmer Sarah Ruggé told host Catherine Cullen.
“There are rules for everything these days,” says grain and livestock farmer Garnett Prinz. “Governments want to control everything we use, and there’s carbon taxes. It seems like everywhere you turn there are rules.”
The House48:45Carbon taxes and conspiracy theories: What’s going on in Saskatchewan politics?
Several farmers who attended the show The House He discussed feelings of alienation from the federal government, particularly regarding environmental issues and carbon taxes.
“We don’t just like burning as much diesel as possible, but when you have to grow crops, you don’t have that option,” Ruge said.
“I’m tired of being told how to farm.”
The federal carbon pricing system includes special discounts for farmers, but that did not ease the concerns of farmers at the event.
Soon-to-be-implemented capital gains tax changes were also a major concern for the farmers gathered in Regina. Estimated Changes to capital gains tax could result in a 30 percent increase in taxes on the sale of a farm.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke to reporters this week and defended the government’s approach to the challenges facing farmers and carbon pricing policy. She said the government projects that the capital gains tax changes will affect only 0.13 percent of Canadians and pointed to other changes that will benefit farmers, such as an expanded lifetime capital gains tax exemption.
“I’m a farmer’s daughter, I’m proud to be a farmer’s daughter and I’m so proud of our Canadian farmers, who contribute so much to our country and who literally feed the world,” Freeland said.
Farmer frustration is a big part of the broader political debate in Saskatchewan, and is part of the provincial government’s opposition to Ottawa on a range of issues, including energy and the environment.
Even though Saskatchewan is no longer sending the money it collects from its home heating tax to Ottawa, residents there will continue to receive carbon tax rebates from the federal government.
And opposition to a carbon tax is a bipartisan issue in Regina. In an interview with CBC House of Representatives, Provincial NDP Leader Carla Beck, whose party opposes the tax, said Saskatchewan people’s feelings are well-founded.
“The anger and frustration about the carbon tax is real. It’s based on real concerns and real feelings of people in this province… that the premier is not listening to the people,” she said.
Saskatchewan has refused to pay its carbon tax to Ottawa, which is against the law, and Beck declined to answer a question about whether he supports the move, saying he’s open to working with the federal government to find a better solution.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told reporters this week that the province was simply responding to Ottawa’s moves.
“Everything we’re seeing in this state is a response by this government. [to] “The initiatives proposed by the federal government sometimes call into question the current federal government’s commitment to keeping Canadians united,” Moe said.
“We need to collaborate and work closely with the federal government wherever we can, but even when we disagree, we are never going to jeopardize opportunities for Saskatchewan families because of decisions made at the federal level.”
“It’s a big step forward,” said Jim Fernie, a professor of public policy at the University of Regina. The House The Saskatchewan Party’s policies are similar to former NDP premier Alan Blakeney’s “province-building” efforts.
“Mr Moe has pushed it quite a bit, but the assertion of provincial autonomy is consistent with what has happened before. He’s just pushed it further in symbolism rather than policy,” Fernie said.
The House Farmers in Canada The urban-rural divideGrain and oilseed farmer Norm Wall said he thinks rural and urban Canada have a hard time understanding each other.
“Urban [Canada] “We are moving further and further away from our agricultural roots… but at the same time, does agriculture and rural areas understand the stresses of the city?” he asked.
“You can’t buy a house in Vancouver or Toronto. For the price of a small bungalow in Toronto, it’s hard to buy an entire quarter block.”
