An amendment to remove barn and greenhouse heating and cooling from a bill that would exempt propane and natural gas from the carbon price was passed yesterday in the Senate by a narrow margin.

The amendment, put forward by Senator Pierre Dalphond, passed by one vote–40 Senators voted yes, 39 voted no, and none abstained.

It amends Bill C-234, a private members bill designed to exempt propane and natural gas for grain drying, and barn and greenhouse heating and cooling from the price on carbon.

The bill, once it has been read for a third time in the Senate, will return to the House of Commons to be debated again.

Conservatives have accused the Liberal government of running interference on the bill.

Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow suggested the Liberals had appointed five new senators to bolster votes against the bill.