Minister downplays cuts to climate-change funding

Saskatchewan’s environment minister says the funding for “Climate Change and Adaptation” was reduced in the 2018-19 budget because in previous years the branch has not spent the dollars it was allocated.

Dustin Duncan told reporters the drop in funding from $2.4 million to $2 million was because: “In the past number of years we’ve come under budget when it comes to the Climate Change branch.”

“This year’s budget more accurately reflects the dollars we’ve spent in the last couple of years, and I would also say we’ve reduced some contracts within the ministry that we’ve had in the past,” Duncan said.

Funding under Climate Change and Adaptation is, according to budget documents, used to develop policy and regulatory frameworks to help build resilience to the cumulative effect of climatic, economic and policy impacts of climate change.

“This includes the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial emitters, in partnership with the industry, the federal government and other stakeholders,” reads a part of the budget documents related to the climate change line item.

Because Saskatchewan is developing the details of its plan to reduce climate change, known as Prairie Resilience, “we know the work plan and the consultations and the amount of work it’s going to take to develop the Prairie Resilience plan this year,” according to Duncan.

“We just had a better idea of the dollar amount we’re going to need,” he said, noting the funding in the Climate Change and Adaptation branch is used to develop regulatory structures and interact with stakeholders, and that work is continuing.

Prairie Resilience was released last year, and is highlighted by a heavy emitter charge where companies producing 25,000 tonnes of emissions would be subject to a fee.

It is expected to be rolled out with industry-specific regulations throughout the summer, following consultations.

NDP environment critic David Forbes said the budget reduction is “alarming ” and “really causes concern over credibility, when we really need it here in Saskatchewan.”

The province has long been at odds with the federal government over how to address climate change. Ottawa is threatening to impose a carbon tax on Saskatchewan, while the province is vying to take the feds to court over the matter.

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan’s emissions continue to rise and are on track to peak at record levels in 2020.

Forbes questioned why the province would go to court with the federal government while also cutting money to its Climate Change and Adaptation branch.

“There are a lot of questions here, and a time when we want to make sure we’re well-prepared and we really know the unique challenges that Saskatchewan has,” Forbes said, adding “it’s hard to buy these excuses” from Duncan.