Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has offered support towards Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and ripped Liberal Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault in the process.
The exchange comes after minister Guilbeault called the Saskatchewan Premier “immoral” for refusing to pay carbon tax money the province owes.
Smith came out firing against Guilbeault on Tuesday, stating: “This is the same man who scaled the CN tower illegally putting lives at risk, trespassed on the home of Ralph and Colleen Klein while Colleen was home alone, and tramples on the constitution of Canada on an almost daily basis as evidenced by his continued Supreme Court and federal court losses including on C-69 and plastics.”
She further said that Alberta stands with Saskatchewan and Premier Scott Moe “in their fight against the unfair and unconstitutional region-specific and fuel-specific application of the carbon tax.”
Premier Scott Moe officially rejected the carbon-pricing law effective January 1, 2024.
Moe’s objection to the carbon tax surfaced after the feds exempted home heating oil from the levy, something that most households in his province don’t use. Instead, most use natural gas.
Guilbeault calls Moe’s actions “unspeakable”
Responding to a reporter, Guilbeault claimed Moe’s decision to reject the carbon-pricing law is “irresponsible.”
“We can’t let that happen. What if somebody tomorrow decides that they don’t want to respect other federal laws, criminal laws? What would happen then if a prime minister, a premier of a province, would want to do that?” he said.
Guilbeault added “it’s irresponsible and it’s frankly immoral on his part. We can have disagreements about things like climate change, but to be so reckless is unspeakable, really.”
Ottawa stated a consequence for Moe’s refusal of payment could lead to removing the province’s carbon tax rebates given to households.
Freeland threatens Moe with jail time
In response to Moe threatening he would pause the carbon tax in Saskatchewan last year, Liberal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland claimed in November that Moe could receive potential jail time.
“The federal government expects everyone in Canada to obey the law. Canada is a country of good peace, order, and good government. I think that is something all Canadians believe in. That’s something we expect,” she said.
