There’s growing concern in the farming sector that the government’s tax reforms could hurt succession plans for future generations of family farms.
Frazer Hunter, who runs the only organic dairy farm east of Quebec in Knoydart, Nova Scotia, says he and his son have had a succession plan in place since 2006.
Now he's not sure how the proposed tax changes will impact their plans.
“It gives us a comfort feeling because we've taken some steps early on, down the road,” says Hunter. “If in the next two weeks, you've got to put in place a succession plan, before it's implemented, the new tax laws, then you know, it's impossible to do that.”
The federal government has set a deadline of Oct. 2, for farmers and other Canadians to give feedback on the changes.
Incorporated farm owner, Ron Christensen says the government’s timing couldn't be worse as summer and fall are the busiest seasons on the farm, leaving little time for meetings or research.
“It’s not enough time,” Christensen says. “’If they said like maybe another year or so from now, maybe October 2, but not this October 2, because I don't think it's been talked about enough.”
Federal Finance Minister, Bill Morneau says farmers concerns will be taken into account.
“Our goal will be to make sure that farms and farm families can continue to be successful. and as we hear about concerns, we'll consider them,” says Morneau.
Hunter says he finds it interesting that Ottawa is describing this as a fair tax when those are the same words being used by government, south of the border.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh.
