Moe firm on climate plan in meeting with Trudeau

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government’s relationship with Ottawa on economic matters is “frosty” — and there was little sign of a thaw this week as both sides hardened their positions on the federal carbon pricing.

After a 45-minute meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Saskatoon on Wednesday afternoon, Moe renewed his call for the federal government to scrap its proposed carbon-pricing plan, which he said would cost the province $1 billion each year.

“The threat of an imposed federal carbon-tax backstop should be removed,” Moe told reporters before blasting the federal plan as an “ineffective tool to reduce emissions (and) an effective tool in moving those emissions to other areas of the world.”

“The federal government should recognize the Prairie Resilience plan that we have put forward, that has real results, not only in emissions reductions here in the province, but in the ability to enhance sequestration and have a real impact on climate change.”

But that isn’t going to happen, according to federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine Mckenna, who suggested Saskatchewan’s refusal to submit its plan for review by the Sept. 1 deadline signalled a refusal to recognize that pollution has costs.

“We’ve been clear that the provinces (are) the best place to design a system that makes sense for them,” Mckenna told reporters shortly before Moe and Trudeau — who is not expected to face the media until Thursday — met in The Delta Bessborough hotel.

“But we’ve been also clear — and the prime minister’s been extremely clear — that if provinces don’t take serious climate action, if they don’t recognize the cost of pollution, that we will have to step in and we will return the revenues to the individuals directly.”

The federal plan calls for a price on carbon emissions rising from $10 per tonne this year to $50 per tonne by 2022. While provinces have the option to develop their own tailor-made plans, Ottawa has pledged to impose a “backstop” on those whose plans it deems insufficient.

While many details remain unclear, the Sask. Party government’s plan, dubbed Prairie Resilience, includes performance standards for some industries and the option to purchase carbon offsets. It does not, however, specify a per-tonne price for emissions.

Moe is one of the country’s staunchest opponents of the plan. Moments after being elected to lead the Saskatchewan Party in January, he said, “We will not impose a carbon tax … and Justin Trudeau, if you are wondering how far I will go — just watch me.”

This spring, his government submitted a reference case to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. It is not clear when the court will rule on the constitutionality of the federal plan, but Mckenna did not appear concerned about the timing of a decision.

“We are very confident that we have jurisdiction to move forward. We would obviously prefer to be moving forward in partnership with provinces and territories,” she said.

Moe said he hopes for a “speedy ” decision (before Jan. 1), but acknowledged the ultimate decision rests with Ottawa.