Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe isn鈥檛 too impressed with the federal government鈥檚 actions in finally passing two controversial bills, Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act, and Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, in late June. In response to their passage, he posted the following on Facebook.
鈥淭he passage of Bills C-69 and C-48 marks a dark chapter for our energy and industrial sectors, and is deeply concerning for our government and all those that value the economic prosperity of our nation,鈥� Moe said.
鈥淭hrough this legislation, the federal government has sent a clear message to the Canadian and international investment community that they do not support the competitiveness of our wealth generating and job creating sectors. The approval of TMX (Trans Mountain pipeline expansion) earlier this week was a positive step, but Bills C-69 and C-48 drastically restrict the possibility of further pipeline and industrial projects to be approved or built.
鈥淢oving into the future, this legislation greatly limits our nation鈥檚 ability to overcome critical barriers in transporting our energy products to international markets, and selling these products for a fair price.
鈥淟ast week, six premiers representing 59 per cent of Canada鈥檚 population wrote to the prime minister to outline our concerns that this legislation would harm Canada鈥檚 economic prosperity in key industries that employ families, sustain communities, and support small businesses. While the prime minister had the opportunity to heed this advice, he instead chose to play politics with the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Canadians. Ultimately, this prime minister will answer to Canadians this October for why he does not support their jobs, and for why he disapproves of our sustainable energy and industrial sectors.鈥�
The first act of the new United Conservative Party government in Alberta was to repeal that province鈥檚 carbon tax. A few weeks later, the federal government announced it would impose a carbon tax on that province, in the same manner it has already done on Saskatchewan. Alberta is taking the federal government to court on the issue, as did Saskatchewan previously. Saskatchewan will now be seeking intervenor status in the Alberta case.
To that end, on June 20, Moe posted, 鈥淪askatchewan has long stood against the harmful and ineffective carbon tax, and we are pleased to see the Government of Alberta file their reference case with the Alberta Court of Appeal against this harmful tax.
鈥淥ur government has continued to stand up for Saskatchewan people against the federal government鈥檚 carbon tax by challenging the constitutionality of this tax in the Supreme Court of Canada.
鈥淲e will also be joining the Government of Alberta by seeking intervener status in Alberta鈥檚 reference case against the federal carbon tax, a tax that hurts hardworking families, communities and businesses across our nation.鈥�
