Photo by Manfred Joehnck.
Premier Brad Wall says legal action is a possibility if the federal government tries to impose a carbon tax on Saskatchewan.
That comment from Wall was part of his first public statement since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise announcement in the House of Commons earlier this week, of a national carbon tax.
Up until now, the premier has responded via Twitter but on Friday he talked to reporters at the Saskatchewan legislative building.
Wall said he is still miffed the Prime minister made the unilateral announcement even though Canada’s environment ministers were working on a carbon dioxide reduction plan in Montreal.
While the federal government calls the tax “revenue neutral,” the premier says oil producing provinces will bear the brunt. He says he will fight for Saskatchewan.
“When it comes to defending Saskatchewan’s interests, I am going to be using very blunt language,” he said.
“Especially, when $50 a ton, and not too far from now in 2022, will have what I believe will be huge consequences for us.”
Opposition leader Trent Wotherspoon was critical of both the premier and the federal government. He says Brad Wall has no credibility on this file.
“He’s making a lot of noise, Twitter tantrums, jumping up and down, that is not going not going to cut it, and this is a premier with no credibility on this file, “ Wotherspoon said.
“I am also no fan of Ottawa imposing a plan, but that being said, it’s not tenable for us not to act, and the approach of the premier is not tenable.”
A carbon tax would hit industries based on a price per ton for carbon dioxide emissions.
The Trudeau government’s plan calls for a $10 per ton levy next year increasing to $50 over five years.
Premier Wall says it would cost the Saskatchewan economy about $2.5 billion a year and would hit consumers hard.