In a press conference held in Oakville, Ontario, Trudeau cautioned Premier Moe against resisting tax payments, saying, ‘Having an argument with CRA about not wanting to pay your taxes is not a position I want anyone to be in.’ The prime minister further stated that Saskatchewan residents will continue to receive carbon rebates from the federal government, despite Moe’s opposition.
The dispute between the federal and Saskatchewan governments stems from a temporary exemption granted by the Liberals to home heating oil from the carbon price. The Saskatchewan government has labeled this exemption as unfair and politically motivated, arguing that it disproportionately benefits Atlantic Canada, where oil is the primary fuel source for home heating. Consequently, Moe’s government has demanded a similar exemption for natural gas, the primary home-heating fuel in Saskatchewan, and has expressed broad opposition to the carbon levy.
Trudeau has rejected calls for a meeting to discuss alternatives to the carbon price, challenging premiers to develop their own climate plans if they object to the federal approach. He cited British Columbia and Quebec as examples of provinces that have implemented their own carbon pricing systems.
The prime minister also criticized Moe’s ‘ideological opposition to fighting climate change’ and accused the federal Conservatives of obstructing a bill that would increase the rural top-up to the carbon rebate for political reasons.
However, criticism of the carbon price has not been limited to conservative politicians. Newfoundland and Labrador’s Premier Andrew Furey, the country’s only Liberal premier, has also called for changes to the policy. Additionally, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has accused the prime minister of adopting a divisive approach to climate change, emphasizing the need for a plan that is fair to workers.
