A pivotal vote in the Senate on Tuesday paves the way for a carbon tax exemption on propane and natural gas used for grain drying, as well as heating barns and greenhouses.

An amendment that would have eliminated the barn and greenhouse  portion of the exemption was defeated in a standing vote by Senators. The final count was 42-28, with three abstentions—one of the abstentions was by Alberta Senator Paula Simon, the deputy chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, which had presented the amendment for a vote.

A final third reading vote will be held on Thursday, clearing the way for royal assent and Bill C-234 becoming law.

Senators received more than 1,300 emails from farmers across the country, urging them to reject the amendment.