Your news this week: Healing Eyes Mission - pg. 3 Bruderheim’s new CAO - pg. 8 Aboriginal Hoop Dancers - pg. 9
Read us online at www.lamontleader.com twitter.com/lamontleader
16 Tuesday, March8,12, 2013 Vol. 7, Vol. No. 8, 2,No. Tuesday, November 2011
MICHELLE PINON PHOTO
Members of the Lamont Velseka Dancers perform during the Kalyna Music Festival Highlights Concert March 10th at the St. Michael Recreation Centre. This past week around 450 youth participated in the annual event which garnered 200 entries throughout the region. More photos and coverage in the March 19th issue.
Reductions to Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit Program will hit province’s producers in the pocketbook Michelle Pinon Editor
Farmers will be shelling out more for diesel due to changes to the Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit Program which were announced during budget day last Thursday. “This is going to affect a lot of producers dramatically,” said Terry Eleniak, agricultural fieldman for Lamont County. From producers point of view it is just another
expense they were not prepared for, adds Eleniak, and that it will definitely have a snowball effect. On March 7th, the Alberta government announced that it was discontinuing the six cents per litre on marked diesel used for farming operations. According to Jacquie Fenske, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan - Vegreville, “This was a difficult decision, and though it was talked about for many years, it has come
to pass. It is important to note, however, that the nine cent per litre exemption from provincial fuel tax on marked gasoline and diesel still exists. What is discontinued is the six cents per litre on marked diesel used for farming operations. Eligible farming operations are also exempt from the 6.5 cent per litre provincial tax on propane and the 1.5 cent per litre tax on aviation fuel.” From a financial per-
spective, Eleniak pointed out that based on the current price of diesel at $1.04 per litre, a 500 gallon tank would cost an additional $136.20 for producers. The total cost on that size of tank would equal $2,360. Depending on the size of a farming operation, the numbers could add up quite quickly, adds Eleniak. For example, if a producer spent $20,000 a year on diesel, it would cost an additional $1,200 per year. Cuts to the dis-
tribution allowance total $30 million and will affect 45,000 producers in Alberta, stated Fenske. She also pointed out that administration of the benefit will not change. “The application process is the same and producers retain their farm fuel numbers and farm plates as long as they continue to be eligible,” said Fenske. “Like Alberta producers, Saskatchewan and Manitoba producers are both exempt from provincial tax on marked
diesel fuel. However, Saskatchewan and Manitoba producers must pay provincial tax of three cents per litre on marked gasoline, while Alberta producers do not. While this change brings Alberta closer in line to fuel benefits provided to producers in other prairie provinces, Alberta’s farm fuel program is still among the best in Canada.”