Trudeau says Sask. residents will keep getting full carbon rebate
That is helping families with the costs of everything from food or fuel to rent. That’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau near Saskatoon, and that help, he says, comes from federal carbon rebates. The Saskatchewan government stopped collecting the carbon tax on home heating at the start of the year, then announced it wouldn’t remit the carbon tax to Ottawa either. So it’s been unclear whether Saskatchewan families would get the rebate checks. Speaking to reporters, Trudeau promised the full rebate checks would continue to flow to Saskatchewan people despite the disagreement I have with the. Provincial government here in Saskatchewan on them not wanting to pay the federal government what is owed. The Canada carbon rebate checks going to families in Saskatchewan will not be impacted by the Government of Saskatchewan’s decision. Trudeau also said the Canada Revenue Agency would find ways to collect the tax. No, I don’t feel worried. The minister responsible for Sask Energy says he’s not sure how the CRA will get its hands on the money. And it won’t change the provinces opposition to the tax, the federal government giving back the people of Saskatchewan, the money that they’ve collected from them on the carbon tax. I think, you know, from that standpoint, I think it’s a good thing. Our view is still that they shouldn’t be collecting it in the 1st place now. The rebate checks have also become fodder for scoring political points. The Prime Minister and I think cabinet felt that that it wouldn’t be fair for for, for, for the people of Saskatchewan to pay for, for the irresponsible attitude of the provincial government. He fielded questions on a wide range of topics from gun control to home ownership to the Middle East conflict. He was also asked about his government proposed changes to the capital gains tax. He says that will only affect people making profits of more than $250,000 in a given year. He says he makes no apologies for this policy. People in those situations need to pay their fair share. And I understand there are those who’ve been very, very successful off the way the system used to be who don’t want to see the system changed. But this is about intergenerational fairness. It’s also about making sure our economy succeeds into the future. Trudeau also highlighted recent budget announcements affecting Indigenous communities. Those include a $5 billion loan program for Indigenous businesses, as well as new spending on infrastructure, language revival and other programs. Jason Warwick, CBC News near Saskatoon.