WALL: 'won't be signing' national carbon tax agreement

[Oscar]

Sask. Premier Brad Wall says federal carbon tax could take $1.3B out of provincial economy

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3469377 ]

Premier says families, farmers, small businesses would suffer

CBC News Posted: Feb 29, 2016 1:14 PM CT| Last Updated: Feb 29, 2016 6:16 PM CT

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says a federal carbon tax would seriously damage the provincial economy.

Speaking to reporters in Saskatoon, Wall said everyone from homeowners to mining companies would be hurt by the proposed federal tax.

"I can tell you with the energy sector reeling in Canada, with the overall Canadian economy struggling, it's my view, it's the Saskatchewan government's view, that the very last thing we need right now is another new tax," he said.

MORE:

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3469377 ]


RELATED:

■Sask. Premier Brad Wall says he 'won't be signing' national carbon tax agreement - Feb. 27/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3467451 ]

■Ottawa wants provinces to form 'working groups' on climate change – Feb. 19/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa- ... -1.3455603 ]

■SNC-Lavalin-built carbon capture facility has 'serious design issues': SaskPower​​ - Oct. 27/15 (EXCERPT Below)
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3291554 ]

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SNC-Lavalin-built carbon capture facility has 'serious design issues': SaskPower

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3291554 ]

Despite conflicts, SaskPower gives SNC another multi-million dollar contract

By Geoff Leo, CBC News Posted: Oct 27, 2015 5:32 PM CT| Last Updated: Oct 27, 2015 8:34 PM CT

An internal SaskPower briefing note obtained by the NDP suggests the much-celebrated Boundary Dam carbon capture project near Estevan, Sask., has "serious design issues".

The note goes on to say the company contracted to engineer, procure, and build the capture facility, SNC-Lavalin "has neither the will or the ability to fix some of these fundamental flaws."

The note, dated Sept. 30, 2014, said SaskPower has already paid 97 per cent of the value of the three subcontracts SaskPower had with SNC — $533 million of $549 million.

It says at the time SaskPower was withholding $6.5 million in payments from SNC because the Crown corporation was having to pay to correct problems with SNC's work.

"SNC has been very slow to address basic design problems," the note claims. "SNC is more concerned about getting paid for the $6.5 million than fixing the deficiencies in our plant."

Speaking at the legislature, following question period, the minister responsible for SaskPower, Bill Boyd, acknowledged there have been problems.

"We are certainly going to work as hard as we possibly can to recover any dollars that SaskPower feels is appropriate from SNC-Lavalin or any other contractor that we feel didn't meet their contractual obligations," Boyd said.

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SaskPower awards SNC-Lavalin another contract

Despite the ongoing conflict, SaskPower recently awarded yet another contract to SNC.

On Sept. 29, SNC announced that "it has been awarded the owners engineer contract by SaskPower for the Island Falls Powerhouse Concrete Rehabilitation project in Saskatchewan. The total capital cost of the project is $45 million."

This move baffles NDP critic Cathy Sproule.

"I don't know if I was working on my house if I would hire a contractor I had problems with to do more work," Sproule said. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense on first blush."

Later in the day, the Saskatchewan government sent out an email clarifying SNC's role in this new project.

"The total capital cost of the project is $45 million but SNC's contract is for $4 million of that work."

CBC reached out to SNC-Lavalin but they were unable to immediately respond.

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Related Stories

■Carbon capture plant delay costing SaskPower millions
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3289833 ]

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Saskatchewan deficit projection climbs to $427M

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3469422 ]

Opposition says Saskatchewan Party government spent too much, saved too little

CBC News Posted: Feb 29, 2016 1:18 PM CT| Last Updated: Feb 29, 2016 6:51 PM CT


EXCERPT:

Official opposition unimpressed

Opposition Leader Cam Broten said the NDP isn't impressed with the latest update.

He said the current government has left nothing in the bank for tougher economic times, and blew though money when the "getting was good."

"This is what we've seen from them after a run, an economic boom in the province, where there's a big hole and there hasn't been the transparency in the legislature to be clear with the Saskatchewan people about what's happening," Broten said.

The NDP said it is putting its finishing touches on its financial plan and will announce it soon.

Promises for the future

In the 2017-18 fiscal year, the province said revenues will recover and the budget is expected to be balanced.

The Saskatchewan Party government did not release a budget this year, saying it was not doing so because of the provincial election.

The Opposition New Democrats said that's unacceptable. The NDP wanted the government to call back the legislature so the province's finances could be discussed in detail.

Saskatchewan voters go to the polls on April 4.


RELATED:

New Democrats want legislature recalled over premier's deficit plan - Feb. 2/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3430596 ]

■Sask. Premier Brad Wall asks Ottawa to send money back while oil prices low - Dec. 28/15
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3376606 ]

■Sinking oil prices: Winners and losers - Jan. 13/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/oil-win ... -1.3400071 ]

■Saskatchewan on track for $262M deficit - Nov. 30/15
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3342540 ]

[Oscar]

CBC Forum: Should Ottawa put a price on carbon?

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/forum-c ... -1.3470468 ]

National carbon price will be test for Liberals at first ministers meeting

CBC News Posted: Mar 01, 2016 9:09 AM ET| Last Updated: Mar 01, 2016 10:59 AM ET

Canada has committed to a 30 per cent reduction of 2005 levels by 2030.

Canada's first ministers will meet behind closed doors in Vancouver on Thursday to attempt to come up with a pan-Canadian approach to pricing carbon. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/first-m ... -1.3469667 ]

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is firmly against it. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3469377 ]

"If there is a national carbon tax that is a part of these agreements… I will not be signing them," he said.

Do you think Canada should put a price on carbon? Here's how the discussion went in the CBC Forum:

MORE:

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/forum-c ... -1.3470468 ]

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Related Stories

■Sask. Premier Brad Wall says he 'won't be signing' national carbon tax agreement - Feb. 27/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3467451 ]

■Federal, provincial auditors general combine forces to audit carbon emissions - Feb. 18/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal ... -1.3453346 ]

■Environment Minister Catherine McKenna announces 20 municipal green grants, loans - Feb. 10/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mckenna ... -1.3442159 ]

■Environment ministers face rising carbon emissions numbers - Jan. 29/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/environ ... -1.3424251 ]

■Ottawa wants provinces to form 'working groups' on climate change - Feb. 19/16
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa- ... -1.3455603 ]