SASKATCHEWAN — People in Saskatchewan will be paying more for gasoline and heating fuel Monday when the federal government's carbon tax begins in four provinces that refused to impose their own emissions pricing.
The federal tax is $20 a tonne for this year and is set to increase by $10 annually until it reaches $50 a tonne in April 2022.
The starting rate adds 4.4 cents to the price of a litre of gas, about four cents to a cubic metre of natural gas, and also drives up the cost of propane, butane and aviation fuel.
There is uncertainty about how widespread the impact will be, how businesses will receive rebates, and whether the tax will survive court challenges underway in two of the rebel provinces.
Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said while farm fuel is exempt from the carbon tax, the levy does apply to that used in commercial trucks and trains moving grain off farms and bringing in seed and equipment.
"As we move our commodities, we're going to have increased costs. Simple as that," Lewis said in an interview.
"There's no way for us to pass these costs along. If you're a grocery store or a dry cleaner, if you're costs go up, you can pass them along to the consumers, but we participate in a world market."
The business community also has unanswered questions. The federal government has yet to reveal details about a program to rebate some of the increased costs faced by small- and medium-sized businesses.
Residents of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick will be getting rebates as well on their income tax returns. The rebates start at $128 annually, vary between provinces and increase for people with spouses or dependents at home.
The federal government says the carbon tax is a sensible way to protect the environment — put a price on activities that pollute to discourage emissions, and give back most or all of the money through income taxes.
An Ontario court is set to hear the government's constitutional challenge of the carbon tax in April. A Saskatchewan court has already heard similar arguments and is expected to deliver its verdict shortly.
Beverly Gilbert, a Calgary tax adviser, says the carbon tax will affect Canada's competitiveness.
"The U.S. does not have any kind of carbon levy or carbon charge so it makes it more difficult to compete internationally," she said.
Speaking Sunday in Brampton, Ont., federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer denounced the tax as just another way to take money from Canadians.
"The Liberal carbon tax is not an environmental plan," Scheer said. "This is nothing but a tax grab."
— With files from Stephanie Taylor in Regina, Allison Jones in Toronto, Holly McKenzie-Sutter in St. John's, Nfld., and Dan Healing in Calgary
