Moe requests infrastructure money, removal of carbon tax ahead of federal budget

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he was asking for two things ahead of Tuesday’s rollout of the federal budget.

One was the removal of the carbon tax “for everything and everyone.” The other was increased infrastructure investments.

On Monday during the first day of the four-day Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association  (SUMA) convention, Moe expressed concerns over a potential increased carbon tax and no new community infrastructure funding.

“(Municipal infrastructure funding) is being shifted towards a focus on housing that is really focused on three of the largest centres in Canada and so we’ll see what tomorrow’s budget brings …,” Moe told reporters after his address. “We’ll wait with bated breath to see what arrives.”

The Government of Saskatchewan has previously accused the federal government of wading into provincial jurisdiction and not consulting with the province by taking unrestricted infrastructure money and tying it to housing requirements.

The province said initiatives like multi-dwelling housing may be a high priority in centres like Toronto or Vancouver but it is not a high priority for most Saskatchewan communities.

Both SUMA and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) have requested provincial and federal dollars towards infrastructure.

The premier was asked if he’d be in favour of a sitdown with the federal government and the municipalities in order to bring about a new fiscal framework.

“Certainly more discussion is always better …,” Moe said. “(Shifting infrastructure money to a housing focus) is unconsulted and exactly the opposite of (everyone sitting) and having that conversation together.

“We need to be, as a provincial government, committed to investing in the infrastructure (in our communities) that are allowing our communities to offer the services – very simple services like wastewater and clean water, for example – that they require.

“I fear that we are losing a federal partner in that conversation and that would be disappointing. That can all be rectified with a change at the federal level.”

Moe also stressed the importance of removing the carbon tax, which he called inflationary.

While in Saskatchewan for another federal housing announcement, federal Justice Minister Arif Virani told reporters the Canada Revenue Agency would be assessing the case of Moe and the province breaking the law by refusing to remit the carbon tax to Ottawa.

“It is causing hardship for Saskatchewan families and Canadian families, Saskatchewan municipalities and Canadian municipalities, and it’s decreasing the opportunities we have to attract and attract investment into our very nation,” he said.

“It needs to be removed and the federal justice minister is the guy to do it.”