Crowns Minister Duncan Dustin said Tuesday he would likely be the one going to jail if the federal government pursues criminal charges when SaskEnergy stops paying the carbon tax in the new year. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By Lisa Schick/CKOM News Staff

‘Carbon jail’: Duncan looking to shift responsibility to government on carbon tax

Nov 1, 2023 | 2:21 PM

As it sets up a potential fight with the federal government over the carbon tax and home heating, Saskatchewan’s government is also looking to make sure it’s the only one in the crosshairs.

Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for the major Crown corporations, said the government is trying to figure out a legislative or regulatory remedy to shift the responsibility, and therefore the consequences, of not paying the carbon tax away from SaskEnergy and to the provincial government.

“We’re still looking at what options might be available, but certainly what I have shared privately with them I can share publicly, is that it certainly will not be our intention to proceed in a manner that would put individuals at SaskEnergy — whether that be the officers or the board members — in legal jeopardy over this,” said Duncan.

That would mean the government or Duncan would be responsible.

“I guess if it comes to that point where somebody’s going to carbon jail, it likely will be me,” said Duncan.

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The minister said the provincial government is hoping the federal government instead expands the carbon tax exemption to all home heating sources. Duncan said that while the provincial government didn’t like the carbon tax, it was in compliance until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed things last week.

“It’s a problem of Justin Trudeau’s making and so our view is that Prime Minister Trudeau can fix it,” said Duncan.

“We’re just asking to be treated like other Canadians. And if that is the case, then I think we’re good. If that’s not the case, then I guess we’ll see where this goes.”

On Monday, Premier Scott Moe announced on social media that his government was calling for an expansion of the home heating oil exemption announced last week, or his government would direct SaskEnergy to stop collecting the carbon tax and paying it to the federal government as of Jan. 1.

Moe told Gormley on Tuesday that the move likely isn’t legal.

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is looking to have barn heating and cooling exempted from the carbon tax.