Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra are voicing their opposition to Premier Moe over the Saskatchewan government’s decision to bring in a yearly $150 tax on electric vehicles.
It is one that government has said will ensure drivers of those vehicles pay their share to maintain roads which is normally funded through gas taxes.
The ministers say the tax works against federal plans to increase the use of electric vehicles and reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Moe responded by saying highways and road systems do not maintain themselves and that road fee use paid by electric vehicle owners will help to maintain this crucial infrastructure. He adds 19 U.S states, including California, have instituted a tax on electric vehicles with three states in Australia looking at doing the same.
There are about 400 electric vehicles registered in Saskatchewan.
