Calgary Chamber calls for changes to the Draft Federal Offset Protocol for beef cattle to support Alberta producers

Calgary, February 27, 2024 – The Calgary Chamber calls for an amendment to the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulation to allow feedlot operators who are ineligible under the existing provincial offset protocols to participate in the draft federal protocol – Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle – currently under development. This amendment would ensure equitable access to offset credits for all beef cattle producers.

“For cattle producers to be successful, we need provincial and federal governments to coordinate and understand where the gaps in policy exist to ensure a fair, equitable and competitive market across the sector,” says Deborah Yedlin, President and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. “In this case, Alberta producers are disadvantaged from accessing federal programs, which is particularly concerning given the significant uncertainties faced by the agriculture sector.”

The protocol proposed by Environment and Climate Change Canada represents a valuable opportunity for the cattle sector to mitigate methane emissions, contributing to Canada's climate goals. However, the Province of Alberta's existing program, that has been in place since 2016, inadvertently prohibits certain operators from participating in the draft federal program, leaving some producers unable to access either the provincial Quantification Protocol for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Fed Cattle or the proposed Federal Offset Protocol.

By making the appropriate amendments to ensure access to federal carbon protocols, Alberta’s cattle sector can remain competitive with other Canadian provinces and ensure emissions reductions achieved in Alberta are attributable to our collective environmental goals.

Read our full submission at www.calgarychamber.com/submission-on-the-proposed-federal-offset-protocol-reducing-enteric-methane-emissions-from-beef-cattle.

ABOUT THE CALGARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce exists to help businesses reach their potential. As the convenor and catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous business community, the Chamber works to build strength and resilience among its members and position Calgary as a magnet for talent, diversification and opportunity. As an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1891, we build on our history to serve and advocate for businesses of all sizes, in all sectors across the city.

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For media inquiries, please contact Shannon Hazlett, Senior Public Relations Advisor, at media@calgarychamber.com.