Goodale optimistic carbon tax deal can be reached in Sask.

Federal cabinet minister and local MP Ralph Goodale remains optimistic a carbon tax deal can be reached with Saskatchewan.

In a speech to the Canadian Club Thursday, Goodale maintained the carbon pricing plan was flexible and could be of benefit to the provincial economy.

He told the guests that the money generated from a carbon tax could be used by the government to reduce personal income tax, start a heritage fund or pay down debt.

However, Premier Brad Wall remains vehemently opposed to such a plan.

Goodale is hopeful they can find some common ground saying a “stalemate” wouldn’t be good for the economy.

“There’s so much that has been achieved together that hopefully we can be optimistic with each other that we can figure out a way to solve this problem too,” Goodale said. “That’s the important thing, let’s keep talking to each other, collaborating and looking for solutions.”

Ottawa has set a starting price of $10 a tonne on carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, increasing to $50 a tonne by 2022.

Goodale said federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna would be in Saskatchewan next week speaking with officials and business leaders as the two sides try to reach an agreement on this issue.