For Immediate Release
SARM Opposed to Federal Carbon Tax
As the Federal Government considers a federal tax on carbon, it is important that both the benefits and negative impacts of such a policy be fully explored. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is apprehensive of an approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that does not take into consideration the unique situation of various industries in each province and is opposed to a federally imposed price on carbon that is not created through consultation or meaningful discussion with stakeholders.
The objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and developing initiatives to mitigate climate change is a goal shared by many, including SARM, its member municipalities, and agricultural producers in Saskatchewan. “The intent of the Federal Government to mitigate climate change isn’t in question here”, said SARM President Ray Orb. “What is in question is the single approach being imposed on each province regardless of the current mitigation efforts being undertaken locally”.
SARM agrees that reducing GHGs, using cleaner technologies, and promoting the use of more efficient technologies are important means to mitigate climate change. Saskatchewan’s agriculture producers have been leading the charge in these areas for many years without a carbon tax. The agriculture industry continues to develop new technologies and techniques that reduce C02 emissions and in effect help our nation in its efforts to mitigate climate change. “A strong example of agriculture’s contribution to mitigating climate change is carbon sequestration created by Saskatchewan producers who purposefully use specific farming techniques and equipment to capture carbon in the soil” said SARM President Ray Orb.
SARM believes that implementing a carbon tax would have negative consequences for the agriculture industry, for municipalities, and the Saskatchewan economy overall. Therefore, the SARM Board of Directors supports Premier Brad Wall’s position of not implementing a carbon tax and pursuing alternatives to further reduce our Province’s carbon footprint such as the Carbon Capture and Storage Project at Boundary Dam which is another example of a strategy already employed in Saskatchewan that creates less CO2 without a carbon tax.
“SARM is supportive of developing a made in Saskatchewan strategy that takes into account our economic make-up and recognizes practices that we have been implementing for some time now. Each province is different and we feel that this should be recognized federally” said President Orb.
For more information please contact:Jay MeyerExecutive Director(306) 761-3721 “The Voice of Rural Saskatchewan”
