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Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry supports further innovation in forestry

Dec. 12, 2018 – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released a report examining the impact of climate change and carbon pricing on forestry, agriculture and agri-food sectors. The report, called "Feast or Fame: Impacts of climate change and carbon pricing on agriculture, agri-food and forestry," also makes several recommendations for the federal government to follow to support these industries as they work towards meeting Canada's emissions reduction targets.  

December 12, 2018  By  Ellen Cools


According to a news release, these recommendations “strike an appropriate balance between protecting the environment and supporting the foundation of Canada’s economic well-being – Canadian workers and consumers.”

Growth in the forestry industry doubled Canada’s overall economic growth from 2015 to 2016, increasing by 2.4 per cent, the Committee reports. The industry also contributed $23.1 billion, or 1.4 per cent, of Canada’s GDP during that time.

Some of the recommendations highlight the need to support innovation, such as by researching the most effective and economical investments in taking action against climate change, and developing incentives that support sustainable practices and ecological services.

Other recommendations aim to protect producers (and, in turn, consumers) from rising production costs. For example, the Committee recommends developing offset protocols that would provide forest owners and agricultural producers income through carbon credits.  

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“Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and forestry sector workers contribute billions of dollars to the Canadian economy. We are impressed at their efforts to shrink their carbon footprint; our report shows how the federal government can support their work to increase the sustainability of their operations,” said Senator Ghislain Maltais, Deputy Chair of the committee, in a statement.

Read the full report here.


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