Article content
Premier Scott Moe says he expects Saskatchewan taxpayers to be treated “equally” by federal counterparts in this spring’s carbon tax rebates, despite his government’s refusal to make payments to Ottawa.
“We would expect to be treated equally among this nation when it comes to whatever rebate may coming,” said Moe on Monday.
Article content
“It fits a proportional reduction in Atlantic Canada, we would expect it to be a proportional reduction here.”
Article content
An average Saskatchewan household of four was to receive $1,500, up to $1,800 in rural areas, in carbon incentive payments for 2024, compared to $760 to $1,300 in Atlantic provinces. Saskatchewan and Alberta notably to have higher carbon costs than other provinces.
Not collecting carbon tax on natural gas was presented as saving the average Saskatchewan home $400 this year, when introduced this fall.
Asked about concerns that some Saskatchewan households will be losing out financially if no rebates come, the premier questioned “is it about emissions or is it about wealth redistribution?”
“They’re going to pay less tax,” Moe said.
Research from the University of Calgary and University of Regina says lower-income households are likely to be the most negatively affected by any cut to carbon rebates.
Data in the study shows 79 per cent of households averaging an income of $20,000 per year and 71 per cent of households averaging $49,000 per year receive more back from the carbon pricing system than they pay in.
The threshold where a household pays more than it receives back begins at a much higher income bracket, an average $231,000 or more.
Moe promised that his pledge will last as long as the carve-out for Atlantic Canadians on home heating oil stands, which was proposed to last three years.
— with files from Alec Salloum
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add The StarPhoenix.com and LeaderPost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
Share this article in your social network
