Union, taxpayers group, construction association say no to a carbon tax

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and United Steelworkers Local 5890 are asking the federal government to not implement a countrywide carbon tax.

They have sent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a letter outlining how a federal carbon tax will hurt Western Canada.

READ MORE: B.C. carbon tax fails revenue neutral claim: study

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The federal government is proposing a carbon price of $10 per tonne in 2018 that would rise to $50 per tonne by 2022.

Todd MacKay, the prairie director for the federation, says a carbon tax will mean less money for working Canadians.

Union spokesman Courtland Klein says many industries have not been given a chance to show their commitment to reducing Canada’s carbon footprint.

READ MORE: Trudeau fields carbon tax questions during Saskatoon visit

Shantel Lipp, president of the construction association, says there are no alternative fuel sources for their industry.

“A lot of the construction camps are powered off propane. The equipment, the construction asphalt plants, the crushing plants, all of that is powered off diesel and there are no alternative fuel sources,” she said.