SASKATOON — The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck to push her federal counterparts to vote in favour of a motion to remove the carbon tax from all forms of home heating.
“Saskatchewanians are paying hundreds of dollars in carbon taxes to heat their homes and getting zero relief from the federal government,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF prairie director.
“The federal NDP’s formal agreement with the Liberal government gives NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a unique opportunity to demand tax relief on home heating.
“Beck needs to push federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to provide relief to Saskatchewanians.”
Prime Minister Trudeau is removing the federal carbon tax from furnace oil for three years. On Monday, MPs will vote on a motion calling on the federal government to extend the carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating.
Almost zero per cent of Saskatchewanians use furnace oil to heat their home. In Canada, only about three per cent of homes use furnace oil for heating and almost all of them are in Atlantic Canada.
The average home uses about 2,385 cubic metres of natural gas per year, according to the CTF. That will cost that household about $300 this year in carbon tax.
Trudeau’s carbon tax will cost Saskatchewanians $410 this year even after accounting for rebates, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
The Saskatchewan NDP unanimously supported a motion to scrap the federal carbon tax in the Saskatchewan Legislature.
The provincial NDP in Alberta also support extension of the carbon tax relief.
“Beck needs to pick up the phone and tell Singh that it also gets cold in Saskatchewan,” said Haubrich. “The Saskatchewan NDP are right to support this relief, but the next step is making sure it gets done in Ottawa too.”
