Ford, Moe gain ally in carbon tax battle
SASKATOON • The premiers of Ontario and Saskatchewan welcomed another province into their anticarbon-tax tent on Thursday and said the fight against Ottawa’s plan to put a price on pollution is gaining momentum.
Doug Ford and Scott Moe made their ongoing opposition to the federal carbon tax clear during a news conference in Saskatoon where both premiers congratulated the province of Manitoba on pulling out of the federal plan.
However, the federal government has made it clear that it will take action if the provinces don’t sign on by Ottawa’s deadline of Jan. 1.
At the Saskatchewan cabinet offices in Saskatoon on Thursday, Moe and Ford stood beside one another and said they would fight Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the carbon tax at every turn.
During the announcement, Moe said Saskatchewan would join Ontario in its constitutional challenge in the Ontario Court of Appeal, with Moe saying the two province’s will continue to be “strong allies” in the fight against what he called a “destructive” made-in-Ottawa carbon tax.
Brian Pallister, the Manitoba premier, announced on Wednesday that the province would be pulling out of the federal government’s carbon tax plan, and Moe took time on Thursday to welcome Manitoba to the fight.
“We believe in advocating for a competitive tax and regulatory environment so that we can expand our industries, expand our jobs, and our opportunities in communities in Ontario and in communities in Saskatchewan and in communities across Canada,” said Moe.
“Both provinces want to ensure that interprovincial trade barriers come down. Both provinces are committed to pro-growth policies, and of course, we have common ground in our opposition to the federal government’s attempted imposition of a carbon tax.”
Moe said both premiers were pleased that Pallister “said no” to the federal Liberal carbon tax.
“It’s clear that opposition to this ill-advised and destructive policy is growing across the nation,” said Moe.
“Saskatchewan and Ontario will continue to be strong allies in the fight against a destructive, madein-Ottawa carbon tax that does nothing for our environment and is a direct cost to businesses, to jobs and to families across this great nation of Canada.”
Ford thanked Moe for support and said he couldn’t have asked for a better partner in the fight.
“Time and time again, he has proven himself a great leader,” said Ford.
“Not just a great leader here in Saskatchewan, but a national leader. He’s a true national leader.”
Ford, who has been staunchly opposed to the carbon tax, said while the provinces are united on many issues — like illegal border crossings and lobbying for international free trade agreements — they were most united on the fight against the carbon tax.
“My friends, the carbon tax is the worst possible tax for Canadian economies, Canadian families,” said Ford.
“It has nothing to with the environment. Justin Trudeau wants to make it something about the environment … all it does is take money out of the pockets of hardworking families and businesses and uses it to spend out of control government spending.”
Ford said Saskatchewan and Ontario are sending a clear message to the government.
“Justin Trudeau, my message to you is this: You either stand with families and businesses and hardworking people across this great province, or you stand with the carbon tax. But I can tell you this, you can’t sit on the fence, because when you sit on the fence, you get splinters.”