The editor:
We are writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to demand fair treatment for the people of Saskatchewan.
For some time now, the federal government has accepted New Brunswick’s plan to comply with the carbon tax. The New Brunswick plan provides relief to consumers from the tax with a rebate.
In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, Saskatchewan submitted a similar plan. Yet despite the fact that the Trudeau government accepted New Brunswick’s proposal, the Minister of the Environment rejected Saskatchewan’s concept.
This is a double-standard that is completely unjust. One of the fundamental principles of Confederation is the fair treatment of the provinces by the federal government.
Denying our province the same benefits that have been granted to another sets a dangerous precedent.
The federal government is effectively saying that the people of Saskatchewan must bear the full impact of their tax, while people in New Brunswick are protected from its full effect. This is grossly unfair.
The excuse that the federal government is planning on moving the goalposts on its carbon tax in 2023 is completely illegitimate. At the very least, the Liberals should accept Saskatchewan’s plan until such time as they change the rules for all provinces. Instead, for the next year and a half, they are denying the people of this province the same benefits that the people of New Brunswick enjoy.
The Saskatchewan Conservative caucus represents the elected will of the people of this province. Every single electoral district chose a Conservative to represent them in Ottawa. We have a democratic mandate to fight for our great province and speak on behalf of the people of this great province.
Conversely, voters in this province utterly rejected their platform and Trudeau’s record as prime minister. He has no mandate to impose arbitrary rules on this province over the objections of its provincial government and against the unanimous opposition of its elected federal MPs, especially when he has granted concessions and accommodations to other provinces.
We are calling on the Liberals to put a stop to the provincial favouritism, and accept Saskatchewan’s proposed implementation of a carbon tax. Canada deserves a prime minister that unites Canadians, not one that sows division.
Do the right thing, treat all provinces fairly, and accept Saskatchewan’s carbon tax implementation.
Saskatchewan’s Conservative MPs
