Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is turning to social media for support in his stance against a national agreement on a carbon tax ahead of a meeting with Canada’s prime minister next week.
In a Facebook post Thursday, Wall indicted he has told the federal government he “will not sign any agreement that includes a national carbon tax being imposed on Saskatchewan.”
Wall encouraged users to share, like or comment on his post to show support for his position.
The Saskatchewan Party also set up an online petition that encourages supporters “to stand up for our economic interests by signing and sharing your comments.” As of Thursday afternoon the petition had more than 19,000 signatures.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall outlines climate change plan as alternative to Trudeau’s carbon tax
Wall said he believes online petitions are as effective as conventional petitions and the social media campaign would continue indefinitely
“I know it’s not going to necessarily win the day however many numbers there are, but it’s a sign of the support that we think exists for Saskatchewan’s position,” Wall said.
Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are scheduled to meet on Dec. 9 in Ottawa to discuss a pan-Canadian climate change plan. In October Trudeau announced the federal government would impose a carbon pricing plan on any province that didn’t have their own in place by 2018.
Wall said his government takes the issue of climate change seriously, but believes a carbon pricing plan is the wrong approach.
“The timing is terrible in the oil and gas sector, in mining and agriculture,” Wall said.
“This is what pays the bills and paves roads and builds in this province and we’re going to fight for those sectors.”
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall willing to take carbon fight to Supreme Court
Wall said the justice department is looking at what legal options the province may have in the case the government follows through with their promise.
“We think there are options and if need be we will take the federal government to court,” Wall said.
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