Premier Brad Wall pens carbon tax concerns in letter to Ralph Goodale

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has penned his opposition to the federal government's carbon tax in a letter to federal Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale.  

In a three-page letter shared by the Premier on social media, Wall writes that he is disappointed by Goodale's position in favour of the carbon-pricing system. 

• Premier wants NDP support to oppose carbon tax
• Ralph Goodale says carbon tax revenue will stay in Saskatchewan

In early October, shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the plan, Goodale refuted the Premier's claims that the system would take money away from Saskatchewan families. 

"Every single penny remains in Saskatchewan and under Saskatchewan's control. Every cent," Goodale said at the time. 

But in his letter to Goodale, Wall said the federal government needed to do an economic impact assessment. 

"This is akin to a surgeon operating on a patient without an x-ray or other diagnostics - an irresponsible action that can lead to disastrous consequences," Wall wrote.  

"Even if this new national carbon tax were 'revenue neutral' ... it is certainly not 'sector neutral'.

Outlining his criticisms of the plan, Wall said the energy, mining and agriculture industries would be hit hard by the tax. 

• Baloney Meter: Will carbon tax really 'siphon' $2.5 billion from Saskatchewan?

He claimed it would put these industries at a competitive disadvantage, prompting them to think twice before expanding, or considering moving to the U.S. 

He ended the letter with a suggestion to the Public Safety Minister, who is the MP for Regina-Wascana. 

"I ask you to remember that you were elected to represent Saskatchewan people in the federal government, not the other way around," Wall wrote. 

Goodale responds to Premier Wall letter

8 years ago

Duration 0:38

Minister of Public Safety, and Saskatchewan MP, Ralph Goodale responds to a letter from Premier Brad Wall that accuses Goodale of ignoring his hme province and his constituents by not opposing PM Justin Trudeau's carbon tax plan.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Goodale responded by saying he was a proud advocate for Saskatchewan. 

"Everybody's entitled to their own view and their opinion and to advance their case as well as they possibly can," he said, referring to Wall's letter. 

"The bottom line, we've got to have a great policy that works for Saskatchewan, and works for Canada too."

Under the federal government's direct-pricing plan, polluters will pay $10 per tonne starting in 2018, increasing to $50 per tonne by 2022.

All provinces must comply by 2018 — or the federal government will impose a price.