Carbon tax fight, teachers' strike, travel costs mark busy week in Sask. politics

Saskatchewan's decision to violate federal law by not remitting the carbon tax on home heating kicked off a war of words with a federal cabinet minister this week, but that wasn't the only spat the premier and his cabinet had to deal with.

The first week of the March sitting came in like a lion, with Premier Scott Moe sticking to his carbon tax decision and then announcing a pre-budget plan to pay school divisions an extra $180 million.

Sandwichedbetween those issues was the Opposition NDP flagging the cost of cabinet ministerDustin Duncan's car service while on a November government trip to Paris.

Duncan, the minister responsible for Crown corporations, spent time recently in Ottawa, where he took time to record a video announcing the Saskatchewan Party government's intention to follow through on its promise not to remit carbon tax generated through home heating to the federal government.

The province sent $170 million to Ottawa last year, and the total was expected to be higher this year.

Moe and Duncan have argued since last fall that the federal government's decision to exempt home heating oil from the tax was "unfair," and vowed to not collect the tax or remit if the policy was not extended to all forms of home heating.

This week, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said it was "immoral" and "irresponsible" for a premier to decide not to follow the law.

WATCH | The At Issue panel discusses carbon tax on March 7, 2024:

At Issue | Saskatchewan refuses to pay the carbon tax

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At Issue this week: Saskatchewan is holding back its share of the carbon tax, so how will the federal government ensure other provinces pay up? The Conservatives want more transparency surrounding the Winnipeg lab leaks that got two Chinese scientists fired. Plus, does the pharmacare legislation live up to the promises?

"What if somebody tomorrow decides that they don't want to respect other federal laws, criminal laws?" Guilbeault said Monday.

"If Premier Scott Moe decides that he wants to start breaking laws and not respecting federal laws, then measures will have to be taken."

Last year, the provincialgovernment, with support from the NDP, moved the responsibility of distributing natural gas from SaskEnergy to the minister's office meaning Duncan would be subject to fines, and even jail time, for not following the law and remitting the taxes collected.

Federal Natural Resources MinisterJonathan Wilkinson told CBC's Power and Politics this week that his government will have discussions about the "consequences," and said he hopes the province "steps back from the brink" andwill "actually behave like law-abiding citizens but I guess that's up to Premier Moe."

"I think people in Saskatchewan and across the country should be appalled at that sort of behaviour from a provincial premier," Wilkinson said.

He previously said the province would no longer see rebates, but has since said those could be scaled back.

Losing the rebate would hurtlower-income people, said Wilkinson.

Moe has defended his government's decision, callingthe tax a "silly, ridiculous and harmful"policythat "should be removed by either this government or the next."

The federal government's response that many people get more in rebates than they pay in carbon tax is flawed, he said.

"So is it about emissions or is it about wealth redistribution? I guess that's a question you have to ask the federal government. What we would say is it isn't reducing emissions," said Moe.

A decision from Ottawa to scale back the rebate and keep the taxoff of home heatingwould be a welcome trade, he said.

"Pay less tax and get a smaller rebate that's fine. Our goal would be to pay zero carbon tax."

Teachers unmoved by funding promise

Regina-area teachers marked the opening day of the spring sitting by striking and picketing in front of the legislative building, as the government and teachers' federation remain at odds on finding a new deal.

In a social media video released Wednesday evening, Moe made the fairly unprecedented move to announce a budget promise of an additional $180 million in K-12 education funding, with $45 million dedicated to classroom support.

Moe's announcement came with an ask for the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation to cancel planned job action, but the union insteadpledged to escalate it.

Then, on Friday morning, the province said it had reached a four-year agreement with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association of nearly $357 million in funding per year toward "classroom supports as well as increased investment into youth mental health resources."

The teachers saythe sticking point in the ongoing labour issueis the government's unwillingness to include classroom size and complexity within a new contract. The union has balked at the money for those issues being outside of an agreement.

"The minister has repeated that the best deals happen at the bargaining table, and we agree,"STF president Samantha Becottesaid Friday afternoon,responding to the funding announcement between the province and the school boards association.

"But his words and his actions don't align, because that minister continues to offer agreements away from the bargaining table."

Becotte said the teachers' federationwould return to bargaining under certain conditions, includingthat the divisions "cannot use these new funds for anything other than student supports."

The STF said the money needs to be restricted to student supports, because"unrestricted" money could be used to service debt.

Minister's Paris trip under scrutiny

The topic that took up the most breath in the legislative assembly this week was the Opposition's questions to Moe and Duncan about the minister's $3,500 car service bill on his Novembertrip to Paris.

Duncan was there to attend the World Nuclear Exhibition to "showcase the province's nuclear capabilities and opportunities on the international stage."

Aleana Young , the NDP'scritic for SaskPower, said taxpayers paid for a Mercedes to travel to meetings, and the tripwas also used for "sightseeing."

Young said atravel log showed Duncan using the car service after a visit to the museum that is home to Napoleon's tomb.

Duncan's itinerary showed he was to be on a tour of pavilions at the expo at the same time, she said.

Duncan said the itinerary item was only a placeholder. He also saidhe paid to get to the museum on his own and toured it during a break in his schedule.

"This was a work trip," Duncan said.

Young, however, characterized it as "another example of how entitled and out of touch the Sask. Party is."

NDP Leader Carla Beck called for an apology.

Moe stood in the house and defended Duncan, receivinga standing ovation from the government caucus.

LISTEN | The Morning Edition's political panel on Paris shuttle costs, contract talks with teachers:

The Morning Edition - Sask12:14Political Panel - March 8

Have you had a chance to visit Paris? Did you go for work, or on your own dime? A Saskatchewan cabinet minister's trip to the famous city is in the spotlight -- after Dustin Duncan took some time to see the sights, as well as attend meetings. We get the latest.