The British Columbia Agriculture Council and BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association are responding positively to the February 28, 2023 budget presented by the provincial government.

Noteworthy to agriculture are the following announcements:

-  $160M Food Security Initiative, $111M is going to BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food for supplementary funding
 

-  $100M Watershed Security Fund
 

-  $85M over three years for emergency readiness
 

-  A point-of-sale reduction versus the existing rebate system in the carbon tax for greenhouse operations

Linda Delli Santi, executive director, BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association, explains that the old process of applying on April 1 for a relief grant on the previous year’s natural gas and propane fuel purchases were a drag on cash flow. Often the relief cheques would not arrive until August. The BC government is proposing that the new system will allow growers to pay their 20 per cent share of the carbon tax at point of sale as of April 1, 2023. An application process will be set up to cover the January 1 to April 1, 2023 period when this new law takes effect.

“The advantage now is that we have a cash flow solution,” says Delli Santi. “However, it’s important to point out that greenhouse growers are still paying 20 per cent of an ever rising carbon tax.”

All farmers are looking to the federal results of a private member’s bill at third reading on Parliament Hill. MP Ben Lobb (Huron-Bruce) is sponsoring C-234, an Act to Amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. Third reading started February 2, 2023 and is still in progress.

 Source:  BC Agriculture Council Feb 28, 2023 news release