Agricultural Carbon Coalition Faces Uphill Battle
Alliance that advocates for farmers wants Ottawa to acknowledge its efforts to reduce carbon emissions
A national coalition of agricultural groups wants Ottawa to acknowledge its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, but its task will be difficult, say experts.
The Agricultural Carbon Alliance (ACA) was formed March 1 to engage the federal government on carbon pricing and advocate for practical options regarding offsets, rebates, and exemptions. Its 14 organizations account for more than 190,000 farm businesses, and together they steward some 62 million hectares, which is over 7 percent of Canada’s land mass.
Agriculture contributes over $32 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product, while the entire agri-food industry represents another $143 billion and provides 1 in 8 Canadian jobs. However, Barry Cooper, political science professor at the University of Calgary, said the sector hasn’t had a high profile since the period from 1972 to 1984, when Ontario Liberal MP Eugene Whalen was agriculture minister.