Murray Mandryk: Moe’s carbon tax dust-up shows theatre replaces debate

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Premier Scott Moe appeared before the federal Finance Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on Wednesday, and likely got the clip he wanted.

The clip was slapped online mere moments after the appearance the Saskatchewan premier desperately wanted … although, he wanted to appear before another committee.

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“The forthcoming 23 per cent increase to the federal carbon tax on April 1 will increase the cost of almost everything, making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people, families and businesses,” Moe said in his initial letter to Liberal MP Peter Fonseca, chair of the standing committee on finance, requesting to appear before that committee.

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“Our government’s decision to stop collecting the federal carbon tax on natural gas and electricity used for home heating led to an immediate decrease in inflation as confirmed by Statistics Canada. The last thing Canadians can afford right now is yet another increase.”

That was the bite-sized argument he wanted to get out. Sadly, clips seem all that’s left in this critical debate.

We are long past a reasonable conversation on the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The belief is that it is either carbon pricing or anything but carbon pricing.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Moe again made it clear that his government will never support a price on carbon, but argued “it’s a mistaken portrayal” to suggest that this position is anti-environment.

“It’s a lack of recognition,” Moe said, arguing that industry in Saskatchewan receives virtually no credit for its massive investments in reducing carbon, including everything from tier-four tractor engines to the building of the world’s most sustainable potash mine.

“We should be proud of that investment. We should be proud of the carbon footprint we don’t have,” Moe said, adding that the federal government instead now threatens to put Crowns Minister Dustin Duncan in “carbon jail” for not collecting a levy on home heating here that it doesn’t apply to oil-based home heating.

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“I said at the committee yesterday: ‘Do you want a climate change plan or do you want action?’ ” Moe said. “If you want to reduce emissions globally, that is the only option.”

Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the federal government isn’t abandoning carbon pricing because it’s working, and for Moe to say otherwise is “just making things up.”

“What Premier Moe is saying and what (federal Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre) Poilievere is saying, there is just zero factual basis. None, zero,” Wilkinson said in an interview on Thursday.

All the data now shows pricing on pollution is the most efficient way of reducing emissions, said the federal minister, who again chastised Moe’s government for breaking the law.

However, he hinted that residents of this province may continue to get their full rebates because it’s not fair that “Saskatchewanians pay for the irresponsible actions of their provincial government.”

Canada’s emissions are falling and data suggests they will fall to 36 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, Wilkinson said. “All the data shows it is working. All of the data shows it’s efficient and effective.”

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“This is the only province in the country that has no target — no target — for reducing emissions,” Wilkinson said. “That should be embarrassing for the government.

“Even (Alberta Premier) Danielle Smith has targets. And (Ontario Premier) Doug Ford has targets. And (New Brunswick Premier) Blaine Higgs has targets.”

There is still a conversation to be had here. But don’t expect much more than angry sound bites.

Murray Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

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