MP Viersen: Liberals Shamefully Cancel Farm Succession Bill

Barrhead, AB – On June 29, Conservative MP Larry Maguire’s Bill C-208 received Royal Assent, removing the unfair tax burden families face when transferring a farm or business to their children.

One day later on June 30, the Liberal government announced it would delay implementation of Bill C-208 until Jan. 1, 2022 and the Department of Finance could significantly amend the law — or scrap it entirely.

“Once again, the Liberal government throws the will of Parliament out the window, this time on the backs of farm families,” said MP Arnold Viersen. “Bill C-208 is common-sense legislation that will reduce taxes on Canadian farmers who want to pass their farm on to family members.

“The only reason the Liberal government is delaying the implementation of this bill is that they want Canadian farm families to pay higher taxes. This is shameful.

“If Canadians don’t care about farm families and supporting Canadian agriculture they have three parties to choose from. If they want to support family farms, they only have one choice – Canada’s Conservatives.”

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said: “I see that as a fairly insincere attempt to roll back the whole thing.”