Presentation: To Carbon Tax or Not to Carbon Tax?
Join the conversation on carbon taxes in Saskatchewan.

Countries, states, and provinces around the world have been implementing carbon taxes as a means to meet important global greenhouse gas emissions targets. Many districts in Canada have already put in place carbon tax. The federal government is now stipulating that a carbon tax must be implemented in all districts in Canada by 2018. The Government of Saskatchewan however has decided not to implement a carbon tax. This leaves many questions about the future of a carbon tax in Saskatchewan and how it may impact the people and businesses of this province. In this panel discussion, we will hear from a variety of experts of the current state of affairs and the implications of a carbon tax in Saskatchewan. Jason Dion, Hayley Carlson, and Dr. Brett Dolter will share their expertise on this important and timely topic.

We will discuss the following questions, and more:


• Why should (or shouldn’t?) Saskatchewan implement a carbon tax? What are the implications of action or inaction (political, economic, social, etc)?
• How is the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada approaching the implementation of a carbon tax?
• How might a carbon tax work in Saskatchewan?
• How might Saskatchewan be able to overcome barriers and move forward with a carbon tax?
• How can the business community prepare itself for the possibility of a Saskatchewan carbon tax?

Hayley Carlson - is currently a youth affiliate on the board of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) and works on climate change research with community groups in Saskatoon. During 2015-2017 she worked as a climate change campaigner and Policy Coordinator with the SES, making several submissions to the Federal and Provincial government regarding a carbon tax and its potential implications for Saskatchewan. She has made several presentations to organizations such as the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council and the City of Saskatoon on the status of carbon pricing and has acted as the media contact for the issue on behalf of the SES. She has a BSc. In Environmental Sciences from the University of Alberta and a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Saskatchewan.

Jason Dion - Jason is a Research Associate with Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, a group of economists devoted to environmental policy that is good for both the environment and the economy. His work at the commission focuses on climate policy in Canada, particularly carbon pricing. Before joining the Commission, he worked as a project manager and economist at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), where his work focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation, green public procurement, and sustainable infrastructure. Jason is a graduate of the MA Economics program at York University, with a focus on Ecological Economics.

Dr. Brett Dolter - Brett Dolter is an ecological economist specializing in climate and energy policy research. He has published in journals such as Energy Policy and Ecological Economics. He is the Vice-President of Research and Education for the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics. Prior to his PhD studies Brett worked as a senior policy analyst for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Brett was recently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Environment and is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Regina. The link to Brett's blog that discusses environmental and energy policy in Saskatchewancan, be found at: https://greencents.wordpress.com