The Official Opposition Saskatchewan Caucus sent a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, calling for a full exemption from the carbon tax for all farming fuels and an immediate cancellation of the scheduled increase of this tax on April 1.聽
In their letter, the Saskatchewan Conservative team stressed the importance of protecting the country鈥檚 food supply and ensuring that farmers are being supported: 鈥淣ever in recent memory has the preservation of our food supply been so crucially important. The government must be focused on ensuring the continuity and sustainability of our food supply. If farmers continue to face increasing burdens, we fear that there will be serious consequences.鈥澛�
The team also expressed concern about the impact an increased carbon tax would have on the energy industry, small and medium-sized businesses and families: 鈥淭he oil and gas sectors here in Saskatchewan are struggling as oil prices reach new lows,鈥� the caucus wrote. 鈥淚ndustry needs support, not a higher carbon tax. This tax increase threatens to put energy producers and their employees in jeopardy.聽
鈥淔urther, as is the case across the country, small and medium sized businesses in Saskatchewan are facing challenges never seen before. While we support efforts by the government to assist businesses through measures such as the new wage subsidy, we are concerned that an increase in the carbon tax will lessen the impact that these measures may have. A rise in the cost of doing business while businesses are facing significantly reduced revenues will only make the situation worse for many businesses.聽
鈥淚ndividuals are also struggling. At a time when more than 1.5 million Canadians are out of work and seeking employment insurance, the last thing they need is to worry about an increase in their cost of living. Here in Saskatchewan that is being felt by farmers, workers from all sectors and their families.鈥澛�
The Saskatchewan Official Opposition team of members of Parliament and senators called on the Trudeau government to 鈥淚mmediately provide a full exemption from the carbon tax for all farming fuels and an immediate halt to the increase of the tax.鈥�
