Canada: Alberta greenhouse growers get carbon tax rebate
In order to grow the crop year round, growers in Alberta have to light the crop and heat the crop through the winter. So, the greenhouse owners had been worried that the levy would result in a big hit to their bottom line, leading to an increase in imported produce and the loss of some greenhouses. The Global News reported that in mid-December, one such family-owned greenhouse southeast of Calgary shuttered its doors for good, citing cost pressures created by the government’s new labor and climate policies.
The aim of Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association was to get rebate or exemption from the provincial carbon tax that comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2017 and they have put a lot of effort to achieve it. "It been a struggle, a lot of meetings, countless volunteer hours, by our Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association (AGGA) Board members and from our membership", says Foisy, "We've collected data, presented it to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's), and anyone that would listen. I've gone to meetings, hosted meetings, gone out to dinners where MLA's would be and took every opportunity to discuss the implications this would have to our Industry, even made a youtube video (see below) which made it to the Minister of Agricultures Desk. So have our other board members, meeting with their MLAs and spreading the news that the Greenhouse industry is a, 'Good News Industry'. The AGGA board along with Red Hat Coop and many contributors hired Anna DePoli to take lead of the lobbying efforts. The NDP government has listened and granted Alberta Greenhouse Owners a rebate."
"Getting an 80% rebate this puts us on a level playing field with BC growers, they also have an 80% rebate. We do not know all the details of this program, but the Agriculture Minister did tell us in a teleconference that this was for all greenhouses. I asked specifically. Anna DePoli is still working with our group, along with some board members they are staying in touch with government officials to create a program that works for everyone, and hopefully with minimal administration."
70% of all Alberta growers belong to AGGA
The AGGA board is made up of growers just like you, we choose to volunteer our time for a worthy cause. At a time like this, when they present data to government they want to know; how many members do you have? And how many growers in Alberta? And was also the first thing Foisy was asked when she was interviewed by 630 CHED radio. "About 70% of all the growers in Alberta belong to the AGGA." And she points out the importance of being a member and asks the members to renew their membership. "When we lobby and donate our time it benefits all Greenhouse Growers, we are asking that in return growers purchase a membership, while the board members do not draw a wage, funds for example can be used to hire a lobbyist, like Anna. We could not have won this fight with out Anna DePoli, and we therefore thank her. Besides that, we also hired Olds College to create the video showed above that we presented in a meeting with Rural Caucas MLAs. Also this had a great effect on getting our message out there.
For more information
Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association
www.agga.ca