Bills for income tax relief, keeping carbon tax off home heating passed in Sask.
CBC
Premier Scott Moe's government followed through on two fall election promises Thursday, passing bills on tax relief and the carbon levy.
One bill, the Saskatchewan Affordability Act, will reduce personal income taxes and save an average family of four more than $3,400 over four years.
The other continues to exempt residents from paying federal carbon levies for home heating, estimated to save about $480 next year for the average family.
"This important legislation will enhance Saskatchewan's status as the most affordable place in Canada to live, work, raise a family and start a business," Finance Minister Jim Reiter told the assembly as the bills passed third and final reading.
"However, our people are not immune to the cost-of-living pressures that are facing all Canadians."
The affordability act includes a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, along with a credit for home renovations that would provide savings of up to $420 per year.
It also keeps the small business tax rate at one per cent while doubling benefits for families to put their children in sports and arts.
Speaking to the carbon levy legislation, Crown Investments Minister Jeremy Harrison told the assembly it ensures unelected officials at SaskEnergy, the Crown gas utility, are protected from potential legal action for withholding the levy from Ottawa.
He said the legislation lets the province remain the sole registered distributor of natural gas throughout 2025 and beyond.
Saskatchewan has not remitted carbon levies to the federal government in the past year, arguing it should be exempt after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a carve-out for heating oil.
The federal government has said it has since reached a deal with Saskatchewan over the issue by securing 50 per cent of what was owed until the dispute is resolved.
Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck said her party supports both bills because they offer some help. But she said Moe's government needs to do more.
She told reporters Moe could suspend the 15-cent-a-litre provincial tax on gasoline and remove the provincial tax on ready-to-eat grocery items like rotisserie chickens and granola bars.
"We are going to continue to fight and bring forth issues Saskatchewan people expect us to deliver on," Beck said.
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