Canada’s environment minister says Saskatchewan will be subject to a federal carbon tax if it doesn’t sign on to a national climate change plan by the fall.
According to Canadian Press, Catherine McKenna has responded in writing to a letter by her Saskatchewan counterpart, Dustin Duncan, about the province not signing on to the federal plan.
Duncan suggested the province should still receive $62 million in federal money for low-carbon projects.
McKenna in response says the province’s share would move to a second phase of the program, which is also open to municipalities, businesses, non-governmental organizations and Indigenous communities.
She adds that it’s unfortunate that Saskatchewan has not joined other provinces and territories in adopting or maintaining carbon pricing that suits its specific circumstances.
McKenna told Canadian Press she remains hopeful the province will still change course before the September 1 deadline for provinces and territories to submit their carbon-pricing plans.
“To be clear, we cannot accept your request not to price carbon in Saskatchewan,” she says in an open letter. “Among other reasons, it would be patently unfair for one jurisdiction to avoid participating in this important national effort to support clean growth and cut pollution.
“In the event that your government does not adopt a price on pollution that meets our standard, we would have no choice but to ensure that a price on pollution applies in Saskatchewan, just as we would anywhere else in the country.”
(Canadian Press)
