Federal budget aims to make farmers greener than ever
Just weeks in, changes are already in the works
Count Canadian farmers – especially those who grow grain – among those who are happy with the federal budget.
On Monday, the 2021 budget directed millions of dollars to farmers to help them be greener than ever. With the increasingly global emphasis on the environment targeting agriculture, and Canada being a major exporting nation, this support is critical for Canadian farmers to be able to answer the bell.
Farmers are openly recognizing the federal assistance. For example, the Grain Farmers of Ontario issued some unusually upbeat praise for Ottawa once the budget was released, in what might be a bit of reconciliation.
“Budget 2021 recognizes that many farmers rely on natural gas and propane in their operations and that there are no ready substitutes,” says current Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Brendan Byrne. “We have been calling on the Government of Canada to exempt fuels used for grain drying from the pollution pricing system and are pleased… to see that Prime Minister Trudeau, Finance Minister Freeland, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Bibeau have done the right thing.”
Last summer, with the pandemic having taken hold, this group attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in particular for what it said was a lack of action to safeguard Canada’s food supply.
“Almost two-thirds of grain farmers in Ontario are worried they cannot survive this downturn,
or 500 grams.
Looking towards the future of the business, Henderson says she sees the possibility of expanding it into a full-time venture, one that might allow her to stay home with the boys.
“I am actually a fulltime paramedic – I am just on leave right now. So, if this business grows to what it has started off, it looks like I could stay at home with my children and run a business and have my own hours. Although I love doing [the work of] paramedics – I would probably still work part time as a paramedic – but my full-time job could be trying to run this business. And I’ve had some family members say that they would, if it grows really great, that they would quit their job and help us,” she said.
She also says there is opportunity to get their treats in local pet stores in Elmira and Alma.
For Emmett, he hopes to be able to turn the business into something really successful so he can buy things for his brothers. Henderson says he is already crafting up new treat flavour ideas and without giving too much away, she says the next ones “won’t involve peanut butter.”
To purchase a bag of treats, Henderson and the boys of REL can be contacted through email at reldogtreats@hotmail. com, through facebook. com/RELDOGTREATS, or by phone 519-588-7983 (call or text).