
Saskatchewan's vow to axe industrial carbon tax tests climate targets during federal election
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's promise to eliminate the industrial carbon tax, and move away from the province's own climate plans, opens the door to a potential federal election issue.
Late Wednesday, Moe announced the Saskatchewan government would eliminate its provincial industrial carbon tax, known as the Output-Based Performance Standards (OBPS) program, on April 1. Implementing the change alongside the federal government's plan to cut the consumer carbon tax the same day, Moe said Saskatchewan would be a carbon-tax free province.
If removed, the federal government could impose a federal industrial carbon tax in its place, something University of Alberta economics and law Prof. Andrew Leach does not expect the 'caretaker' government in place for the election to do.
During an election period, a convention of the government functions in its place until a new government is sworn in or an incumbent is re-elected.
Leach said the federal government has the jurisdiction to impose carbon pricing, but it's a political decision.
"There's almost no chance that the federal government is going to do that now," he told CBC's Alexander Quon.
"That would probably go, I would think, beyond your caretaker convention during a federal election; but, more importantly, I don't think that Mr. Carney's going to want to shift the ballot question to that right now."
Ditching industrial tax is abandoning climate goals: economist
Brett Dolter, an associate professor of economics at the University of Regina, sees Saskatchewan's divergence from the industrial carbon tax as knocking down the second of three pillars in the province's climate change plan.
In December 2017, Saskatchewan launched its climate change strategy, entitled Prairie Resilience.
For Dolter, there are three main pillars to that plan: methane capture, its industrial carbon emissions tax and cleaner electricity production.
By cutting the tax, one is knocked down. Dolter also sees another tumbling.
Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan government directed SaskPower to create a plan for power generation that could include extending the lives of its coal-fired power plants. That's among the issues affecting its electricity goals, he said.
Without the emissions tax, operating those power plants would be a lot more affordable, Dolter said. He said running coal power plants is going to steer the province away from its goal of reducing its emission production from its electricity generation by 40 per cent.
"It's starting to look like Prairie Resilience is more like prairie obstinance. We're just getting climate policy out of the picture here in Saskatchewan," he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
'We don't want him to go': Toronto students rally to reinstate principal
Students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts staged a walkout in support of their principal. CBC's Clara Pasieka explains why.


Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Saskatchewan premier promises $500 in direct aid to each wildfire evacuee
Published Jun 11, 2025 • 3 minute read Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe holds a press conference after the first ministers' meeting at TCU Place in Saskatoon, Sask. on Monday, June 2, 2025. Photo by Michelle Berg / Postmedia Network SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, facing criticism that his government is failing to provide timely help to those fleeing wildfires, promised Wednesday a $500 payout for each evacuee. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Moe said that money is on top of existing supports for the more than 10,000 people forced out of their homes due to a string of wildfires in Saskatchewan's northern region. 'It's an investment that will be available very shortly to families,' Moe said at a news conference in Saskatoon. 'It will be available to support them in their evacuation and also potentially in repatriation to their communities.' The money will go to those over 18. Moe has faced criticism from the provincial ombudsman and others that his government failed to provide timely aid to evacuees, leaving some without shelter and having to sleep in their cars. Moe said the government has been moving as quickly as possible since the provincial state of emergency was called two weeks ago, but acknowledged, 'There has been challenges. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We've worked quickly at times to try to address some of the concerns that have been raised,' he added. Read More Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck said she welcomes the payout to families but accused the premier of not properly planning. 'It appears that the plan was written on the back of a napkin, after the premier rightfully got it handed to him by (the ombudsman),' Beck said in Regina. The NDP has urged Moe to call in the military for aid and provide timely assistance to those who've had to flee their homes, as Manitoba and Ontario have done. Earlier this week, Saskatchewan ombudsman Sharon Pratchler said her staff has been overwhelmed trying to help evacuees and that Moe's government was failing to provide immediate aid, including food, shelter and basic information. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Marlo Pritchard, head of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, said Wednesday there was 'no significant growth' in the fires and more staff were brought in to help evacuees. About 7,000 people in and around La Ronge, 380 km northeast of Saskatoon, are allowed to return home Thursday after an evacuation order was lifted. Residents of La Ronge, Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band can start going home at 8 a.m. Pritchard said transportation would be arranged for evacuees staying in hotels provided by the agency. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The fires menacing Saskatchewan are among many across Canada that are forcing evacuations from British Columbia through to Ontario and beyond. Smoke has been drifting south into the United States and even to parts of Europe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Christy Climenhaga with Environment Canada said the poorest air quality was in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but that the Prairies could get some smoke relief this weekend. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have invoked states of emergency to help various levels of government deliver aid as they experience some of their worst fire seasons in recent years. About 21,000 people were forced out of some Manitoba communities ahead of the fires, including all 5,000 residents of Flin Flon and about 6,700 from Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Alison Dallas-Funk, deputy mayor of Flin Flon, said in a social media post the city is working on re-entry plans, but officials are at the mercy of fire conditions. She added that Coun. Judy Eagle is feeding and caring for pets left behind. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pimicikamak Chief David Monias said on social media that a re-entry plan is in the works, but dates remain up in the air. On Tuesday, Sheryl Matheson, the deputy mayor of Sherridon, near Flin Flon, urged the Red Cross in an open letter to provide direct supports. 'Many of these (evacuees) do not have identification, do not speak English as a first language, and do not have access to email, online banking, or the necessary technology to meet the requirements currently being enforced by the Canadian Red Cross,' wrote Matheson. Premier Wab Kinew's government has urged tourists to reconsider visiting the province for now, as it strives to find hotel rooms and other shelters for evacuees. — By Jeremy Simes in Regina, with files from Aaron Sousa and Fakiha Baig in Edmonton and Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg. Celebrity NHL Editorial Cartoons Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs


Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
NDP leader says Carney needs to keep Parliament in the loop on trade talks
OTTAWA - Interim NDP Leader Don Davies is accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of not being transparent about negotiations with the U.S. on getting President Donald Trump's tariffs lifted. Davies said Wednesday that Parliament has not been kept in the loop on what Carney and Trump are talking about behind closed doors, or whether Ottawa has involved stakeholders in negotiations with the U.S. 'Previous Liberal governments have made quite a deal out of appointing different stakeholders from society to be present in advising them. Yet we don't know anything about that in these negotiations,' Davies told reporters outside the House of Commons just ahead of question period. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It's time that Carney government became more transparent with Canadians, let us know who's negotiating, and definitely explain to Canadians why he's pursuing deeper military and economic integration with the United States when he promised Canadians that he would do exactly the opposite.' Carney declared during the recent federal election that Canada's old relationship with the United States, based on deepening economic integration and military cooperation, had come to an end and he vowed to stand up to Trump in the face of steep U.S. tariffs. CBC/Radio-Canada reported earlier Wednesday that the U.S. and Canada are hashing out a 'working document' that outlines details of a potential trade deal and states that Canada will participate in Trump's Golden Dome missile defence project. The prime minister's office is neither confirming nor denying that report. Asked by reporters about talks on the U.S. tariffs, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the government's 'endgame' is to have all of Trump's tariffs removed, but he referred journalists to Carney and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc for the most up-to-date information. 'It's a very dynamic situation,' Champagne said. 'We've been engaging with our friends in the United States. You know, we talk to different people in the administration.' But Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand breezed past reporters who shouted questions at them on Wednesday, while LeBlanc was not seen in Parliament. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Ontario Premier Doug Ford publicly confirmed the secret, top-level discussions last week, saying that Carney and Trump are in 'deep discussions' on trade and working 'around the clock to get a deal.' 'They're right at the brink,' Ford said in Toronto on June 5. Pete Hoekstra, Trump's ambassador to Canada, said in an armchair talk at the Canadian Club of Ottawa on Wednesday that he thinks there's a 'possibility to have a great deal.' He said that 'all indications' are that the two countries could reach a 'very positive agreement,' but couched that 'there's also the possibility you could end up with something like no deal or whatever.' 'Until a deal is announced, you really won't know what's it in it,' Hoekstra said. Trump has insisted that Canada could join his unbuilt Golden Dome continental missile defence program at a cost of $61 billion. Carney confirmed last month that he is in talks with Trump about the project. 'It's something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level,' Carney said at a press conference in Ottawa on May 21. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.