The Supreme Court will announce its ruling on the constitutionality of the carbon tax on Thursday, something the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario have been arguing against. Originally, the provincial appeals courts ruled in both Ontario and Saskatchewan that the federal government is able to enact carbon pricing, but the Alberta appeals court ruled against it. Now, the decision comes down to the Supreme Court.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili has some concerns about the carbon tax because he says it disproportionately impacts Saskatchewan’s economy.  The province is very dependent on high emissions industries. Because of that, Meili believes the federal government should support Saskatchewan more to lessen the impacts of the tax.

The provincial government hasn’t helped with funding at a proposed Regina biofuel processing plant that would use locally grown canola, because the government is against the Clean Fuel Standard, which is part of the carbon tax.

Meili says the province shouldn’t be turning its nose at any jobs and opportunities it can support. There is also a proposed project in Estevan which would be a renewable diesel refinery, to replace the jobs from the two coal-fired power units at nearby Boundary Dam.