Members of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce oppose the federal government's carbon tax on utilities, and hope for a reprieve. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Angela Brown

By Angela Brown

Business matters

Chamber still hopeful carbon tax will be repealed

Mar 7, 2019 | 2:08 PM

The federal government’s new carbon tax on utilities bills will be bad news for consumers and will hurt area businesses too, according to members of the Chamber of Commerce.

The tax is set to start on SaskPower and SaskEnergy bills as of April 1.

“The chamber is not too happy with it because of the effect it will have on small businesses in our community,” Chair Dallan Oberg said. “It is going to have a huge impact on the bottom line.”

He cited concerns for business owners who have to head warehouses or a large shop and added it might pull money out of the local business community.

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“Less money in your pocket to spend means you are going to do less in the community,” he said.

He is still hopeful the province will have some success in the courts with its constitutional challenge of the federal government’s ability to impose a carbon tax on residents and businesses which infringes on the province’s jurisdiction.

The judges still need to make a decision on the issue.

And while Saskatchewan’s premier may be asking for a pause on the start of the carbon tax, according to Ralph Goodale, that won’t be happening.

Premier Scott Moe said earlier this week that he asked the federal government — and will continue to ask — for the implementation of the carbon tax on consumer goods to be put on hold until Saskatchewan’s court case against the tax has concluded.

Saskatchewan’s counsel said it could take anywhere from six months to a year for a decision to be made.

On Thursday, Goodale said the implementation date “is firm and clear.”

Goodale said the start date is baked into the tax legislation for the tax, adding there’s no telling how long a conclusion in the court case could take.

“Whether it’s a few weeks or a few months — it could be subject to appeal — this could be a very long period of legal uncertainty,” explained Goodale.

— with files from 980 CJME

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow