Moe reiterates concerns to Trudeau in second letter

Premier Scott Moe has sent another letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but this time Moe is laying out specifics.

Moe took to Twitter on Thursday, posting the second letter to Trudeau.

“We remain waiting for him to act on his commitment that he gave me that he would meet in the next couple of weeks, he would meet on the issues that are important to Saskatchewan, and on his words when he said he understands our frustrations and would like to support the people of Saskatchewan,” Moe said following Question Period at the legislature.

“We’re waiting for that meeting.”

Prime Minister Trudeau, 10 days ago I outlined a new deal with Canada. I asked you for a meeting in the next two weeks, and you committed to that.

Prime Minister, you’ve left Saskatchewan waiting. pic.twitter.com/Qz33fLrvPS

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) October 31, 2019

Moe said his office has been calling Trudeau’s office all week.

“Today we are disappointed because those appear to be just words that were voiced the other evening,” Moe said, referring to the comments Trudeau made after the federal election on Oct. 21.

In his first letter, Moe suggested that Trudeau — if he was serious about listening to Western Canadians, specifically those in Saskatchewan and Alberta — should cancel the carbon tax, commit to a new equalization formula for those two provinces, and build pipelines.

In Thursday’s missive, the premier was more specific in his comments about those topics.

Moe pointed out that the carbon tax will increase by 50 per cent in Saskatchewan on Jan. 1, even though the province believes it has its program for lowering emissions.

“I am asking you to place a one-year pause on the federal backstop in Saskatchewan by removing the federal carbon tax in 2020 while Saskatchewan and federal officials work together to re-evaluate Saskatchewan’s carbon emissions plan,” Moe wrote.

“I am confident such a re-evaluation will demonstrate that Saskatchewan is contributing to Canada meeting our Paris Accord commitments and that the federal carbon tax is not necessary in Saskatchewan.”

Moe said he wanted the federal government to put a “hiatus” on the carbon tax, which would allow for “true negotiation” on Saskatchewan’s plan.

“(The carbon tax) is ineffective,” Moe said. “It needs to be repealed and we need to have a negotiation on actual emissions reductions and the opportunities we have to meet our Paris Accord commitments.”

Moe also said he was eager to discuss with Trudeau the federal government’s plans to continue with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

As well, Moe wants the prime minister and his newly re-elected government to amend the equalization formula in 2020 for Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the meantime, Moe wants the federal government to give a one-time, per-capita payment to those three provinces to make up for the lack of equalization payments they have received under the current formula.

Moe said, after the election, the prime minister said he would be supportive of Saskatchewan.

“I would ask for the same type of support and backing that he is giving jobs that he views are important in Quebec — jobs at SNC Lavalin,” said Moe.

Changes to The Marriage Act

On Thursday, the provincial government announced it was amending The Marriage Act “to protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation through marriage.”

“Under the current laws you’re deemed to be capable of both writing a will and getting married,” Justice Minister Don Morgan said. “When the courts apply the tests for wills that’s a fairly high standard, but for marriage there’s nothing.

“So what this (amendment) does is it gives a family member the ability to apply to set aside a marriage if they think somebody has been taken advantage of, and it’s up to the court to look at the relevant facts.”

It will allow family members to apply to the courts to have a marriage annulled if the family is concerned their loved one who doesn’t have the capacity to consent — they could be elderly or intellectually disabled — has been taken advantage of.

The act currently allows courts to nullify a marriage only when one of those in the marriage was a minor at the time.

Morgan said the family would make the application to a judge and would have to supply supporting documents as to the capacity of their family member, and would have to have evidence that the person is being taken advantage of — such as documents showing bank transfers.

Morgan said he doesn’t think the changes will put an undue burden on the courts.

NDP Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer said those changes all seem like common sense things, but she and the NDP will be keeping an eye on another change being made — the one saying a pre-existing will won’t be automatically voided in the event of a marriage or two years of co-habitation.

Sarauer said that’s a big change that will affect a lot of people in the province.

“We’re going to be watching it and consulting to see if there are concerns about wills and marriage in the province and how other jurisdictions have treated it. And we’re also concerned about unintended consequences that can result from this
change,” Sarauer explained.

Child support orders get tougher

The government also revealed it’s changing the Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act to make sure people know the Maintenance Enforcement Office (MEO) can collect financial information, including banking information.

“These changes are about helping children receive the support to which they are entitled,” Morgan said in a release. “The Maintenance Enforcement Office needs to be able to collect banking information in order to accurately calculate and collect payments.”

Currently, the act only allows the MEO to request information on financial status without specifically mentioning banking information.

The MEO also will be able to enforce arbitrator’s decisions on support.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick