Premier Scott Moe. (file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By CKOM News Staff

Moe says federal climate policies could cost Saskatchewan $111 billion by 2035

Oct 11, 2022 | 1:17 PM

Federal climate policies could cost Saskatchewan’s economy more than $100 billion by 2035, according to Premier Scott Moe.

On Tuesday, the provincial government released an analysis by the Ministry of Finance that found “nine different federal climate change policies are estimated to cost Saskatchewan’s economy $111 billion between 2023 and 2035.” Moe’s government also released a paper entitled ‘Drawing the Line,’ outlining potential policy changes aimed at achieving greater autonomy from Ottawa.

While resistance to Ottawa’s climate policies is nothing new for the Saskatchewan Party or Moe, the premier said the problem has recently become worse.

“The situation has been exacerbated in recent years by the current federal government’s continued interference in this province’s jurisdiction over natural resources under the guise of federal environmental regulation,” Moe said in a statement.

“It is time to defend and assert Saskatchewan’s economic autonomy by ‘drawing the line:’ taking a number of steps including the introduction of provincial legislation to clarify and protect Saskatchewan’s constitutional rights.”

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Some of the potential policy measures included in the paper were new legislation to “clarify and protect constitutional rights belonging to the province,” increased autonomy over immigration, legal action to maintain control of carbon emissions and targets, and exploring “greater autonomy in tax collection.”

Moe has previously spoken about increasing Saskatchewan’s autonomy to the point where the province becomes “a nation within a nation,” and has a level of provincial autonomy similar to that found in Quebec.

“We have so much potential in Saskatchewan to grow and prosper,” Moe said.

“A strong Saskatchewan means a strong Canada, but we cannot allow continued federal intrusion into our exclusive constitutional rights to develop our natural resources and grow our economy. We will defend and protect Saskatchewan jobs and our economic future.”

Moe is expected to share more details during the Speech from the Throne on Oct. 26.