Lower breast screening age, new tax credits, higher carbon price among changes coming to Sask. for 2025
Property tax rates also going up
A few changes are coming to Saskatchewan as we bid adieu to 2024, from tax hikes and rebates to a moratorium on boar farms. Here's what's in store:
Carbon tax
The federal carbon tax is increasing. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the federal carbon tax on SaskPower's carbon emissions will increase to $95 per tonne of CO2 equivalent emissions from $80, according to the Crown corporation.
As a result, SaskPower will raise the carbon tax component of customer bills by an average of 2.9 per cent across the system.
Money collected from the carbon tax goes into a provincial fund, not to Ottawa. The money collected by SaskPower in Saskatchewan goes to a provincially-run technology fund and is spent in Saskatchewan, SaskPower said in an email to CBC.
That also means carbon tax rebates are going up. The average Saskatchewan family will now get back $480 every quarter, with the first cheques arriving Jan. 15.
Since January 2024, Saskatchewan has not collected carbon tax on home heating, but residents are still scheduled to receive their full carbon rebate payments.
Saskatchewan Affordability Act
Passed in December, the Saskatchewan Affordability Act raises personal income tax exemptions and indexes tax brackets to inflation.
The province says the act will reduce personal income taxes for the average family of four by more than $3,400 over four years.
The legislation also includes a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, has a credit for home renovations of up to $420 per year, and doubles benefits for families to put their children in sports and arts.
The province also reversed an earlier plan to raise the small business tax rate to two per cent, keeping it at the current one per cent.
Breast screening eligibility age drops to 40 from 50
Saskatchewan is lowering the age at which women are eligible for breast cancer screening for the first time to 40 from 50.
The Ministry of Health says the change will take effect in January 2025 but will take a gradual, phased approach.
The expansion will provide screening mammograms to women who do not have symptoms of breast cancer.
Moratorium on wild boar farms
In a bid to regulate the growing population of feral swine in the province, Saskatchewan is putting a moratorium on wild boar farms starting Jan 1.
Existing farms had until Jan. 1 to apply for a licence.
New regulations for existing farms include regular inspections, required fencing, reporting any escapes and maintaining records.
Property taxes for Saskatoon and Regina
Property taxes are increasing by 4.96 per cent in Saskatoon.
People in Regina will learn their property tax change later in the year when the full city budget is passed.
Meanwhile, homes are up for revaluation. That means property taxes could further go up or down based on the new valuations.
With files from Shlok Talati, Laura Sciarpelletti and Alexander Quon