Trade minister says carbon tax poses challenge to Ag growth
Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development says the federal government wants to impose a carbon tax at a time when the agricultural sector is showing growth and should be getting a credit for its carbon-reduction efficiencies.
Speaking to paNOW, Jeremy Harrison said while there were month-on-month gains in agricultural jobs in Stats Canada’s latest report, especially in the North, Ottawa poses an ongoing challenge to the viability of the sector.
Harrison lauded the 11,000 additional full-time jobs for Saskatchewan from December 2017 to December 2018, thanks largely to an increase in the agricultural sector, but said the Liberal government threatened the resurgence in the industry.
“We have ag producers who are going to be paying a significant carbon tax that’s going to be going up for the next five years if it’s up to Justin Trudeau and that’s something we’re fighting hard,” Harrison said.