TNC Exclusive: Documents reveal feds considered carbon tax-like rule for farm fertilizers

The federal Liberal government has considered forcing a carbon tax-like “regulatory backstop” onto farmers should voluntary agreements to reduce fertilizer emissions not meet Ottawa’s arbitrary standards – and it could see crop production across the country drastically decline.

The Liberals have been pulling out all the stops in recent months as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce emissions in the name of fighting climate change. Carbon taxes, plastic bag bans and electric vehicle sales rules are just some of their initiatives, but they’ve also set their sights on emissions from fertilizer use by farmers.

The feds maintain that fertilizer targets will remain voluntary and be based on individually-crafted agreements with farmers and industry leaders. However, a Jul. 16, 2021, discussion paper acquired by True North from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada via an access to information request shows the government floating a federal backstop as a “policy option” should all else fail. 

“A number of policy measures could be put forward for consideration beyond just a ‘voluntary agreement’,” wrote Agriculture Canada officials. “A suite of policy approaches will be necessary, and consideration to be given to a regulatory backstop should voluntary approaches not be successful.” 

True North received a document dump from the federal government that covered the inception of the program in 2020 through 2021. Agriculture Canada officials are currently processing another request pertaining to the program’s developments in 2022.