REGINA - The first two bills of the new session for the Saskatchewan Party government, both aimed at affordability, have been passed.
Both the Saskatchewan Affordability Act and Carbon Tax Fairness for Families Act were passed unanimously on third reading at the Legislature on Thursday.
The Saskatchewan Affordability Act brings in the affordability measures that were campaign promises from the Sask Party during the election campaign, including the income tax reduction.
Meanwhile, the Carbon Tax Fairness for Families Act extends the removal of the carbon tax on SaskEnergy home heating bills for another year.
With the Saskatchewan Affordability Act passing, its changes are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. But that will depend on whether the federal government will agree to do the federal tax changes needed to fast-track the Affordability Act’s changes.
Premier Scott Moe met reporters to discuss both bills just prior to the final votes. He was asked if he had heard back from the Feds yet on that issue.
“I do not know if we've heard back,” Moe replied. “We would ask them to fast-track and change the formulary for employers so that Saskatchewan residents can start receiving on a monthly basis the advantages, the financial advantages that are in the Saskatchewan Affordability Act, which is really delivering the largest income tax cut since 2008 in this province and will provide lower taxes for Saskatchewan families to the tune of over $3,000 over the next four years.”
As for the Feds’ response to the Carbon Tax Affordability Act, Premier Moe said he did not know if the Minister of Finance has heard back from them as of yet, but added “I would hope and urge them to do.”
Moe added that he felt it was time for voters to weigh in on the carbon tax and the various other affordability issues at the federal level.
“We have a minority administration federally. The expectation of Canadians is that roughly four years is the time that they elect a government for. It's time for either (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau to provide Canadians with the opportunity to choose who is going to represent them with negotiations with the United States of America on tariffs, who is going to represent them with policies moving forward and are those policies going to be focused on energy and food security or are they going to be focused on increasing the cost of living for Canadians? Justin Trudeau has the opportunity to provide Canadians with that choice.”
Moe also took aim at the federal NDP leader: “So does Jagmeet Singh. This is an opportunity for us, I think, to come together, whether it be in this province or across Canada. Four years is the norm. I know legally you can go to five years, but four years is the norm. And this minority administration has had their four years and I think it's time for Canadians to have their say.”
As expected the Official Opposition went along in voting for the affordability and the carbon tax fairness legislation. Opposition Leader Carla Beck was asked again by reporters why the NDP was supporting both pieces of legislation. She answered that the reason was because people were struggling.
“They're struggling with the cost of living, in ways that -- as I said today -- many people in this province have never struggled before. People who have worked their whole lives, who have never had to worry too much at the end of the month, hadn't looked too closely at grocery prices or at the price of gas now are finding themselves making big decisions based on what's left or not left in their bank accounts at the end of the month.”
She also spoke of her own party’s emergency motions calling for gas tax and other relief.
“People need relief. We put forward measures that we knew would provide some relief immediately. Again, the government voted against those measures, including the suspension of the gas tax. But we do respect and understand that Saskatchewan people need relief. So for those reasons, we're prepared to support those motions.”
