CRA to audit Sask. for not paying carbon levies on home heating
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is going to audit Saskatchewan for not paying carbon levies on home heating, Premier Scott Moe said Monday.
Moe said the agency has indicated it will look at Saskatchewan's books to see how much the province owes in levies that weren't paid to Ottawa.
"They will ask if they can look at the submissions we've made and for us to submit money they estimate may be owed," he told reporters.
"We don't believe there's any dollars that are owed."
The Saskatchewan Party government decided earlier this year to not remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, a move that breaks federal law.
Moe invoked the measure after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exempted users of home heating oil from having to pay the levy in a move largely seen as politically motivated to boost Liberal support in Atlantic Canada.
The Canada Revenue Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trudeau said last week the agency is "very, very good" at getting money owed and wished Moe "good luck" in dealing with the agency.
Moe said it's unfair for other forms of heating not to be exempt.
"We think the federal government could actually take another step and make this whole policy decision more fair to more Canadian families," he said.
Moe said the agency could face problems collecting the money, as Ottawa may have to change legislation to get it.
He pointed to a section of the federal budget that says Ottawa is proposing changes to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Act. The changes would allow federal officials to share information with one another about provinces that aren't paying carbon levies.
Information would be shared "for the purposes of evaluating potential action," it says.
Trudeau has defended his decision to exempt home-heating oil users, saying it's more expensive than natural gas. He has ruled out offering exemptions to other users.
Most Canadians get more in rebates than what they pay, Trudeau has said.
He has also said Saskatchewan residents will continue to get rebates, even though the province isn't paying.
Moe said Saskatchewan residents can do whatever they want with their carbon rebates.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977053.1721909931!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
DEVELOPING Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.