Uxbridge tax protest one of several across Canada

Roger Varley

A relatively small group of people turned out Monday for an anti-carbon tax protest in Uxbridge. The protest was one of several staged across Canada, most sponsored by an organization called the Nationwide Protest Against the Carbon Tax.

The Uxbridge protest began around noon, with a convoy of vehicles slowly moving west along Highway 47 from Lake Ridge Road, through the downtown area, south on Toronto Street and then up Conc. 6, towards the arena. The convoy inched along, causing a long back-up of traffic.

At the arena, fewer than 40 vehicles pulled in for the rally, and only 11 of those could be classified as farm vehicles. One of the vehicles was a semi-trailer carrying a small "Axe the Tax" sign.

After having some initial problems with the sound system, a few people addressed the gathering, complaining about the economic hardships that farmers face because of the carbon tax. The federal tax increased by 23 per cent on Monday.

Local farmer Ted Eng said he made no money last year and is likely going to have to lay off some of his farm workers.

After telling the crowd "we live in the best country in the world," rally attendee Brad Bradshaw noted that Canada sends millions of dollars to help people around the world.

A number of cars, a few tractors and a couple of tractor trailers line the side of Hwy. 47 east of Uxbridge, waiting to begin a slow rally through town, culminating at the Uxbridge Arena. Photo by John Cavers

"Why can't they help us?" he asked.

Local resident Ron Bouwmeister claimed the carbon tax "is going to destroy Canada."

A farmer named Bruce McKeown said the point of the protest was "to make consumers aware." He claimed that the federal government's carbon tax rebates do not cover the cost of the tax. He added that farmers who dry their grain are facing increased costs for the fuel needed in the drying process.

In September 2022, a private member's bill that would create specific carve-outs for farmers in Canada's carbon pricing scheme passed in the House of Commons with all party support. The bill would exempt farmers from paying for emissions from the natural gas and propane they use for certain activities performed on their farms, such as drying grain, preparing feed, irrigating and heating barns. The federal carbon price already features an exemption for gasoline and light fuel oil costs used in tractors and trailers. (ctvnews.ca/politics/house-passes-bill-creating-carve-outs-for-farmers-in-canada-s-carbon-pricing-scheme-1.6336352)

Angel Godsoe of Victoria County told the crowd that there are other anti-tax actions in the works. When asked what those actions would entail, Godso said: "We want to shut down Bay Street. We're here to support local farmers."

Godsoe also claimed municipal governments "don't work for the people," a sentiment that was shared on one of the vehicles in the protest convoy, which carried a message calling for the arrest of corrupt politicians.

Much larger protest gatherings were held in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Ottawa, New Brunswick. B.C. and other localities, all supposedly sponsored by the Nationwide organization. However, a search of the internet failed to reveal who is behind the group or who its officers are.

During the Uxbridge event at the arena, a knot of people surrounded a reporter for the Uxbridge Cosmos, accusing the newspaper of being beholden to the Liberal government and of telling lies. At one point, one protester, driving a tractor, asked the crowd if he should run the reporter over.