The recent changes to federal environmental guidelines that implement carbon tax regulations on any new natural gas plants beginning in 2021 is causing a stir in Moose Jaw, inciting a pushback from Mayor Fraser Tolmie on behalf of the City of Moose Jaw.
The incoming 350-megawatt natural gas power plant being built by SaskPower in Moose Jaw’s Southeast Industrial Park is the focus of Tolmie’s concerns. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Tolmie called for the federal government to grandfather the proposed plant project as it was finalized in December of 2018.
No reply from the prime minister’s office has been received as of yet.
“We feel that, quite honestly, the logical path forward would be for the federal government and the provincial government to grandfather this project,” said Tolmie. “The federal government was made aware and federal agencies were made aware of this project prior to its announcement, because of the impact in this local area.”
Alongside the positive effect the $700 million plant project has promised to bring to Moose Jaw — in the form of jobs, economic revenues, and more — Tolmie also expressed concerns over the future of Saskatchewan’s growing need for a more dependant source of power.
SaskPower has not shared any speculated numbers regarding what the carbon tax regulations could potentially cost the new project, said Tolmie. But as of now, SaskPower is still in contact with the City and has not declared plans to change the project’s future.
“To be quite honest with you, I believe that (SaskPower has) been caught off guard with this,” said Tolmie. “The regulations that were brought forward were not what we were (expecting), what the province had expected. And so with that change, that creates a ripple effect and impact.”
Tolmie made clear that he will be battling the regulations so long as they impede on Moose Jaw’s progress, and will continue to discuss the matter with the provincial government.
“I will measure that response (from the federal government), whether they're going to listen or not listen, and then we will understand whether we've got a fight on our hands or we don't,” said Tolmie. “It's a challenge for the city of Moose Jaw. It's a challenge for the province of Saskatchewan and we need to be communicating that to the federal government.”
No other solutions are being discussed at the table as of yet, while the mayor’s office waits for a reply from the federal government.
“We're going to continue to do the right things, which is be diplomatic, advocate and wait for what we believe is a good response,” said Tolmie.
