Saskatchewan farm group disappointed by Supreme Court decision on carbon taxation

March 25, 2021 (Regina, SK) – The President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is disappointed with the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the challenges to federal jurisdiction over carbon taxation.

“Saskatchewan agricultural producers have been very concerned about the impact of the federal carbon tax on our sustainability,” APAS President Todd Lewis explained. “As producers, we don’t set the prices for our products, and can’t pass those extra costs along the value chain, so it comes right out of our pockets.” APAS has estimated the cost of producing an acre of wheat will increase by $12.50 by the time the carbon tax is fully implemented in 2030. These cost increases will include trucking, rail freight, and grain drying.

“APAS decided to get involved as an intervenor in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal case because agriculture and environment are shared federal/provincial areas of jurisdiction, and policymaking in those areas works best when it’s developed by both levels of government and reflects the best interests of those sectors.”

Lewis pointed out that the federal carbon pricing policy still impacted the financial sustainability of producers, and that the needs of producers would have to be addressed by the federal government. “The Court has upheld the federal government’s jurisdiction, and now the government must act to resolve the outstanding issues faced by our industry.”