Federal carbon tax protesters slow traffic at Sask.'s borders with Alberta, Manitoba for 2nd day

Protesters opposed to an increase to the federal carbon price have slowed traffic at three locations along Saskatchewan's border.

RCMPconfirmed officers were deployed to sites alongHighway 1 at Saskatchewan's borders with Alberta and Manitoba as well as on Highway 16 near Lloydminster yesterday.

Protestorswere there as part of a series of nationwide protests against the carbon tax held on Monday. In some locations theyslowed traffic down to 30 km/h, according toHighway Hotline.

Videos posted to social media show vehicles honking horns, and decorated with Canadianflags and signs that read "axe the tax."

Locations of protests alongmajor highways in Saskatchewan:

At least some of the protesters were at the same locations on Tuesday.

Saskatchewan RCMP say they're working with protest organizers to allow themto exercise their right to protest while ensuring people remain safe.

Police say that drivers heading to any of the three locations are asked to slow down.

WATCH |Cross-country protests greet carbon tax increase:

Cross-country protests greet carbon tax increase

2 months ago

Duration 2:16

The carbon tax increase sparked protests across Canada, along with a call from the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador for an emergency meeting about the increase.

At last report, the Highway Hotline showed traffic down to 60 km/h at both borders. RCMP say they will remain on scene but that drivers should expect delays.

In a statement, the government of Saskatchewan said the Ministry of Highways worked with RCMP to "ensure safety on our highways for road users."

Saskatchewan maintains opposition to carbon pricing

The national price on carbon emissions increased from $65 per tonne to $80 on April 1. That works out to an extra 3.3 cents per litre of gas.

"So we know gas prices rise and fall," Brett Dolter,aneconomist with the University of Regina, told CBC's Blue Sky on Tuesday.

"Now, if you hadn't seen the news about the carbon price, you might not have had a a big reaction to it, because it's actually smaller than a lot of the other times gas prices go up."

LISTEN | How does the recent carbon price increase affect life in Saskatchewan?

Blue Sky50:34How does the carbon price increase affect life in Saskatchewan?

The federal carbon tax increase kicked in yesterday and it has people talking. Some have even taken part in protests across the country and right here in Saskatchewan. Premier Scott Moe recently said the dispute over the price on carbon pollution likely won't end without a change in federal government. Today we heard from people in support of the tax and from those who say it's hurting their communities. 

Carbon pricing hasadded 17.6 cents to the cost of a litre of gasoline since it was introduced in 2019, and Dolter said the slow increase on the price of carbon is by design.

It's meant to ease people into reducing their reliance on things like gasoline andgive time for alternative technology to be developed, Dolter said.

While the federal carbon price has gone up, the corresponding rebate has also increased.

The rebate which was recently rebranded by the federal government as the Canadian Carbon Rebate ismeant to offset the tax.

For a family of four in Saskatchewan, the quarterly cheque can be up to $376, and for a single adult the quarterly cheque can be up to $188.

The federal government says eight out of 10 families receive more in rebates than they pay under the carbon tax.

On Tuesday, the provincial government said that it has been clear in itsopposition to the federal carbon price.

"We believe it should be removed from everything, for everyone, and we continue to advocate for that to the federal government," the statement read.

Kyle Bennett, mayor of Shaunavon, Sask.a town located 350 kilometres south west of ReginatoldBlue Skythe price on carbon brings with it a cost for municipal governments, which are forced to find new income to cover the increased cost of operating buildings.

"There's not a lot of people in the community that do support the carbon tax. I haven't actually heard anybody that that has come to me and said, you know, 'I'm really happy we're paying this carbon tax,'" said Bennett.