QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Carbon Tax
March 3, 2022
Minister, last year my home province of Saskatchewan submitted its own proposal to your Trudeau government to replace the federal carbon tax. Saskatchewan’s proposal would give our province control over its own carbon pricing, while cutting emissions in the province. Your government rejected this plan, even though it was similar to the one previously proposed by New Brunswick, which the Trudeau government accepted. Saskatchewan’s Premier Moe has called this decision, “arbitrary and political.” Saskatchewan has reapplied, but your federal government says there will be no provincial carbon-pricing system decision until at least 2023.
So, Minister, the people of Saskatchewan want to know, why is there a double standard on the carbon tax? Why is this Trudeau government once again giving Saskatchewan the short end of the stick?
Thank you for your question, senator. I would beg to differ with the characterization of how we are moving forward on carbon pricing in this country. We have, in fact, given a lot of latitude to provinces and territories. Of revenues raised through the application of the carbon-pricing system, 100% is being recycled in the province or territory where those revenues are generated. In fact, we’re sending back, including to the people of your province, more money than households are having to pay through the carbon-pricing system.
Provinces can have their own system as long as they are equivalent. That is a very important element. If they’re not equivalent, if they’re not stringent enough, then the federal system applies. Were the Province of Saskatchewan willing to put something on the table that would be as stringent, they could have their own system. Certainly, New Brunswick and Ontario will have to do better, because in 2023 we are putting more stringent regulations in place to ensure that the system is more robust.
