Sask. environment minister ‘jovial’ after meeting with federal minister

Seeming in fairly high spirits Thursday afternoon, Saskatchewan’s environment minister spoke to the media after his meeting with his federal counterpart.

Dustin Duncan said he’s now looking forward to working with Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

“I’ve had the chance to speak to him on the phone before, and a little overlap in previous roles, but this will be the first time I get to work with him, I think, on a full-time basis, and I would just say I came away from our meeting with a pretty positive impression in terms of Minister Wilkinson’s desire to work with Saskatchewan and work with all provinces,” said Duncan.

Duncan said Wilkinson had read through the growth plan and wanted to know Saskatchewan’s priorities. According to Duncan, Wilkinson seems like he’s willing to listen and that’s a change in tone from what Duncan has seen in the past.

This is a bit of a change from Duncan’s demeanour on Tuesday when he said he was disappointed with the decision to lower the carbon tax rebate.

He said the meeting only lasted about 45 minutes because of Wilkinson’s other commitments, but they still managed to discuss a dozen different issues.

Duncan said there are things they’re not going to agree on, but the two had a “fruitful” conversation in the areas where they do agree.

According to Duncan, Wilkinson was willing to reconsider Saskatchewan being kept out of the low carbon economy fund. He said they also talked about the carbon tax rebate changing, but he’s going to have to ask for more details on the formula.

The two talked about the carbon tax, and Duncan said he didn’t get the feeling there’s going to be any flexibility on that front. He said both sides are looking to see what happens in court first before pursuing other options on the table.

Duncan repeated that Wilkinson seems willing to work with the province.

“For me that’s a hopeful sign,” Duncan said, “but I’m not hopeful enough that he’s going to eliminate the carbon tax, but hopeful that in other areas that we’re going to be able to work together.”

The two also talked about low carbon technology, including carbon capture technology, and Duncan asked whether the carbon tax will rise above levels set for 2022.

Duncan said Premier Scott Moe has an existing relationship with Wilkinson and that can be helpful.

“My sense, just in talking to (Moe), is I think he and Deputy Prime Minister (Chrystia) Freeland are developing a very good working relationship, and certainly his advice to me is try to do the same with Minister Wilkinson,” said Duncan.

Moe was also very positive after a recent meeting with Freeland — much more so than he was after a meeting with the prime minister just a few weeks earlier.