Moe demands end to carbon tax, highlights affordability measures in response letter to federal NDP Leader

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe made yet another request to the federal government to cease the carbon tax – after federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh penned a letter to provincial leaders asking them to cut the provincial sales tax (PST) in several areas.

In his letter, Singh asked premiers across Canada to scrap the PST on “daily essentials” and monthly bills – which he claims would match his recent pledge to scrap the federal General Sales Tax (GST) on home heating, internet, mobile bills, diapers, kids’ clothes and grab and go groceries.

"People need relief and they need it now. I’m asking Canada’s premiers to join me in taking better care of people by scrapping the sales tax on daily essentials and monthly basics," Singh said in news release from the federal New Democrats.

"My tax-free essentials pledge plus provincial sales tax relief would go a long way to giving people some breathing room."

In his response, Premier Moe highlighted the fact that affordability was a major issue in the province’s recent election – and his re-elected Saskatchewan Party government intends to fulfill its commitments during the first sitting of the legislature.

He also noted that SaskPower already does not charge PST on residential natural gas.

• Sask. Party promises to extend carbon tax exemption on home heating

"However, the Trudeau government, which you support, requires SaskEnergy to charge both the carbon tax and the GST on residential SaskEnergy bills," he said in the letter.

"Our government is now providing a carbon tax exemption on home heating, over the objections of the Trudeau government which you support. If you are serious about making life more affordable for Saskatchewan people and all Canadians, you should insist that the Trudeau government remove the carbon tax on home heating for all Canadians."

The Sask. Party’s election promises largely consisted of a long list of tax reductions for residents.

They include income tax reduction, a low-income tax credit, increases in the Graduate Retention Program and increases in numerous other tax credits – in addition to freezing the small business tax rate.

Affordability is top of mind for both parties with the Saskatchewan NDP urging the government to mirror Ottawa’s temporary GST cuts.

"We know right now, even before we get into the holiday season that there are people in this province who are falling behind on their mortgage payments, who are not able to pay all of their utility bills, who are struggling just to pay for the basics let alone but gifts for their kids or holiday meals,” Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck said.

“We support measures that are going to cut costs for Saskatchewan people.” 

Government House Leader Tim McLeod said affordability measures are a good thing regardless of the government that is introducing them.

"We have very clearly set out what measures our government is going to pursue. We've received a mandate from the people of Saskatchewan to do that and we are going to do exactly what we said we were," he said.

Saskatchewan’s 30th legislature will officially convene on Nov. 25. The first order of business will be election of a new speaker before MLAs get down to business.

- With files from Wayne Mantyka