SARM, organizations send letter to Trudeau opposing carbon tax

Opposition to the federal carbon tax is getting louder in Saskatchewan.

Lead by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), twelve organizations from agriculture, construction and business have signed a letter detailing why the carbon tax won’t work.

“We believe that it is very significant that organizations and associations are jointly opposed to the federal carbon tax,” said SARM President Ray Orb. “Our letter is indicative of the opposition across Saskatchewan.”

The letter outlines why the group believes the tax would be harmful to Saskatchewan’s economic sectors including agriculture, business, and construction.

The group argue that a carbon tax is not the most effective policy tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or mitigating climate change and believe innovation is the better approach.

The premier has been vocal in arguing a carbon tax won’t work.

The federal government plans to introduce a $10 per tonne price next year increasing to $50 by 2022.

The letter has been sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal Environment and Climate Change minister Catherine McKenna.

The signatory organizations are the Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Association, the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Sask Pork, the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Western Canadian Wheat Growers, Western Equipment Dealers Association, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Sask Milk, and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

Major orgs in SK join forces to say “No” to @JustinTrudeau on a Federal #carbontax #skpoli Read more: https://t.co/HEIkoRViaZ pic.twitter.com/f66olS0OFJ

— SARM (@SARM_Voice) January 24, 2017