Synopsis

The federal and provincial governments are currently discussing a new national strategy to fight climate change with some form of carbon pricing, though it has not been decided whether this will be in the form of cap and trade or a carbon tax. Currently, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec either have or are planning to adopt some form of carbon pricing. Canada’s four Atlantic provinces are in discussion about creating a joint climate action plan, potentially including carbon pricing. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Many Saskatchewanians have expressed concern that any additional costs could further endanger the fossil fuel industry in the province, which is already damaged by low oil costs. However, other premiers and experts have indicated that this is not necessarily the case. (5, 7, 9)

Opposes any form of carbon tax and said it would not sign onto any Federal-Provincial agreement that includes one (6, 8, 9) Believes that some form of carbon pricing could eventually be put into place so long as the funds went into a provincial technology fund for projects such as carbon-capture and storage (7) Passed a bill in 2011 that would have made heavy industrial polluters pay into a green technology fund, but never implemented it (7) Believes climate change action should be focused on technology and innovation, and not on taxation or restrictions on the fossil fuel industry (9) Supports the reduction of emissions through carbon-capture and sequestration, and have invested more than a billion into the carbon-capture and storage project at the Boundary Dam coal-fired power station (10, 11)	Opposes any kind of ‘carbon tax’ on the economy as a whole (9) Believes that some form of carbon pricing could eventually be put into place so long as the funds went into a provincial revenues (7, 9) Pledges to implement a new technology fund with a price on carbon for major emitters with compliance payments used to fund renewable energy innovation in Saskatchewan (9, 12, 13) Pledges to restore the province’s climate change and environmental assessment and protection program (13)	The Liberal Party of Saskatchewan has not clearly articulated its position on the issue of carbon taxation Please see the party’s position on renewable energy for more information	Opposes a carbon tax and believes there are better ways to curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions without burdening those who live in northern and remote communities (13) Emphasizes its plans for increasing the use of renewable energy. For more information, click here.

References

1. Global News
2. The Star Phoenix
3. CTV News
4. The Globe and Mail
5. iPolitics
6. CBC
7. CBC
8. Global News
9. Financial Post
10. The Globe and Mail
11. CBC
12. CBC
13. NDP Sustainability Plan
14. Green Party Facebook Page