Viewpoint: Canadian government incentives to boost agricultural sustainability lags while billions are given away to high-tech ventures. Here’s why that needs to change

off farm photo copy
Credit: USDA

This federal government appears to look at almost every decision through a climate change lens.

For better or worse, Ottawa is determined to walk the walk when it comes to reducing damage caused by global warming.

It is also prepared to spend a lot of money in this effort.

A case in point is the mind-boggling dollars the federal government has committed to help two companies set up electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants in Ontario

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While it’s true the government’s climate change focus hasn’t ignored agriculture, the amount of money it’s spending on the sector pales in comparison to that earmarked for two private companies to build electric vehicle batteries in Ontario.

No, this isn’t a petulant demand for fairness, similar to small children who keep track of what presents each receives from Grandma and Grandpa.

But it is glaringly obvious that the federal government is not treating all sectors of the economy equally.

There is little point in demanding that agriculture receive $28.7 billion from the feds because that’s what the battery makers received. But we do expect that agriculture’s important role in climate change mitigation be recognized.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here

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