Poll: Almost half of Sask. people disapprove of federal carbon pricing

A new poll shows that people in Saskatchewan aren't happy with the federal carbon pricing scheme.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the provinces they had until 2018 to put a price on carbon pollution, but it had to meet the federal benchmark or "floor price." Premier Brad Wall made national media when he spoke out strongly against the plan, calling it "disrespectful" and a "betrayal".

Now, a Mainstreet/Postmedia poll shows 45 per cent of people polled in Saskatchewan either somewhat or strongly disapprove of the federal plan. 27 per cent either somewhat or strongly approved of the plan. 28 per cent were not sure.

• Justin Trudeau gives provinces until 2018 to adopt carbon price plan
• 'This is a betrayal': Brad Wall slams Justin Trudeau for carbon pricing deadline

According to the polling results, Saskatchewan's approval rating was the lowest in the country. The national average approval rate was 51 per cent. PEI ranked the highest at 67 per cent. 

"A majority of Canadians approve of the federal government's decision to impose a price on carbon pollution," said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Research, in a press release. "A large majority of people surveyed in the provinces that don't currently have a carbon tax or cap and trade system want their provincial government to introduce a plan versus having the federal government impose one."

Meanwhile, 55 per cent Saskatchewan people told pollsters they wanted the provinces to introduce its own scheme, versus 22 per cent who wanted the federal government to become involved.

Mainstreet polled a random sample of 431 people in Saskatchewan, using a mixture of landlines and cell phones using Chimera IVR between October 5 and 6.  A probabilistic sample of this size would yield a margin of error of 4.72 per cent, 19 times out of 20.