Premier Moe said the agency has indicated it will look at Saskatchewan’s books to see how much the province owes in levies that weren’t paid to Ottawa.
“They will ask if they can look at the submissions we’ve made and for us to submit money they estimate may be owed,” he told reporters.
“We don’t believe there’s any dollars that are owed.”
Premier Moe invoked the measure after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exempted users of home heating oil from having to pay the levy in a move largely seen as politically motivated to boost Liberal support in Atlantic Canada.
The Canada Revenue Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prime Minister Trudeau said last week the agency is “very, very good” at getting money owed and wished Premier Moe “good luck” in dealing with the agency.
Premier Moe said it’s unfair for other forms of heating not to be exempt.
“We think the federal government could actually take another step and make this whole policy decision more fair to more Canadian families,” he said.
Premier Moe said the agency could face problems collecting the money, as Ottawa may have to change legislation to get it.
He pointed to a section of the federal budget that says Ottawa is proposing changes to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Act. The changes would allow federal officials to share information with one another about provinces that aren’t paying carbon levies.
Information would be shared “for the purposes of evaluating potential action,” it says.
Prime Minister Trudeau has defended his decision to exempt home-heating oil users, saying it’s more expensive than natural gas. He has ruled out offering exemptions to other users.
Most Canadians get more in rebates than what they pay, Prime Minister Trudeau has said.
