Saskatchewan NDP motion to repeal gas tax fails in legislature – Brandon Sun

REGINA – An emergency opposition motion to suspend the 15 cents per liter provincial gas tax failed in the Saskatchewan legislature on Tuesday, with Premier Scott Moe saying there are other ways to save people money.

NDP Leader Carla Beck urged Moe during question period to support the gas tax exemption, arguing it would save families hundreds of dollars when buying Christmas presents.

“People cannot afford to wait until tax time to get some cost-of-living relief. They need help now,” Beck told the meeting a day after the ruling Saskatchewan Party laid out its legislative priorities in the throne speech.

“We could provide this relief now, if only the Prime Minister would say yes to our motion,” she said.

Moe told the meeting there are better ways to help with affordability, including income tax relief.

Moe’s government plans to introduce the measure into law later this meeting.

“These tax cuts are not only affordable to the province, but they are permanent. They are not temporary. They will be there for years to come,” he says.

Moe added that the province also plans to continue deducting the federal carbon tax from home heating bills.

He said the federal NDP should push Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to lower the carbon price.

Beck responded: “The Prime Minister knows we don’t support the carbon tax.”

She later told reporters that the government’s decision to block the gas tax motion shows Moe is out of touch with cost-of-living pressures.

“This is a government that says it understands the challenges that people in Saskatchewan are facing and they understand the need for some changes, but we saw them … vote against that relief,” she said.

“What people in Saskatchewan are looking for are measures that allow them to put Christmas gifts under the (tree).”

Moe told reporters he will focus on delivering on promises he made ahead of last month’s provincial election, including income tax relief.

He said he hopes the legislation passes during the current legislative session so residents can see savings early next year.

“We need the federal government and I suspect the federal Treasury needs to send the amended schedule to employers so they can calculate their (tax) deductions,” Moe said.

The legislative session resumed this week after Moe won a smaller majority with 34 seats in the 61-seat legislature in the Oct. 28 election. Beck’s NDP has 27 seats.

Moe has promised a more civil tone in the Legislature. The last chairman, Randy Weekes, accused members of Moe’s Saskatchewan Party caucus of intimidation and intimidation via text messages.

There was little unrest in the house on Tuesday.

Beck said she expects the silence won’t last long as members feel more comfortable.

“There are very important issues facing people in Saskatchewan and they expect us to have important, rigorous debates,” she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024.