The province of Saskatchewan has long maintained that any sort of carbon tax or carbon pricing would have a significant negative impact on industries in the province.  They backed that statement up on Monday as the government announced their climate change plan titled "Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy".

The plan outlines a broad rank of actions in a wide range of areas including economic impact, managing natural ecosystems, provincial infrastructure, and monitoring and reporting on climate issues.

Dustin Duncan is the Minister for the Environment in Saskatchewan stated in a news release "This plan is broader and bolder than a single policy such as a carbon tax and will achieve better and more meaningful outcomes over the long term" 

"Our climate change strategy recognizes the investment and innovation that has taken place and sets out the road map for future actions. This is about protecting our people and communities as much as it is about working with industry and others to reduce emissions here in Saskatchewan".

In terms of how the plan might effect industry the province will give oil, gas and mining what they call "flexible compliance options."  These include:

  • Making improvements reduce emissions
  • Purchasing a carbon offset.
  • Practising "best performance credits".
  • Paying into a technology fund.

Today's announcement also reiterates the provinces pledge to reach 50% electrical capacity from renewable resources by 2030.

For a complete look at the plan click here.