Sask. premier looks back on tumultuous year with Ottawa, feels province fared well in 2023

Following a year of uncertainty around the world – Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe believes his province has fared better than most in 2023 – pointing to efforts in making energy affordable and legislative endeavours such as the Parents' Bill of Rights.

Following a year of uncertainty around the world – Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe believes his province has fared better than most in 2023 – pointing to efforts in making energy affordable and legislative endeavours such as the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

Moe spoke to CTV News’ Lee Jones in a 20-minute year in review special that will be broadcast Dec. 27 at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on CTV News Regina and Saskatoon. A preview of that interview can be viewed using the video player at the top of this story.

The year 2023 was marked by numerous jurisdiction battles between Saskatchewan and the federal government – mostly concerning environmental regulations.

“You have five regulations that they have come forward with, carbon taxation, clean fuel standard, clean electricity standard, and then just as the COP[28] week came on, we had a methane cap and a cap and trade,” Moe explained. ”There's no other oil industry in the world that has those types of regulatory burdens put on them.”

The difference of opinions elevated during the latter half of the year, with the Government of Saskatchewan introducing legislation to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas used for home heating – following a federal exemption on home heating oil.

“We made the very same decision that the federal government did. We asked them to do the right thing and treat all Canadian families equally,” Moe said.

Saskatchewan later expanded its refusal to collect the tax to include electric heat.