Scott Moe replaces Brad Wall as Saskatchewan premier, has message for Justin Trudeau

The Canadian Press

Bill Graveland

Moe, 44, has been a central figure in Saskatchewan’s battle to resist the federal government’s insistence that provinces put a price on carbon

Immediately after he was chosen as the next premier of Saskatchewan Saturday night, Scott Moe threw down the gauntlet on the threat of a federal carbon tax by using a line from the prime minister’s late father.

“We will not impose a carbon tax on the good people of this province,” Moe said after winning the Saskatchewan Party leadership.

“And Justin Trudeau, if you are wondering how far I will go — just watch me.”

It took five ballots in the preferential system for the former advanced education and environment minister to take the party’s top job. He beat out three other provincial cabinet ministers and a senior civil servant to win the leadership.

As a former environment minister, Moe, who is 44, has been a central figure in Saskatchewan’s battle to resist the federal government’s insistence that provinces put a price on carbon. As the lone holdout among the provinces, Saskatchewan has said it will take the matter to the courts if necessary.

The “just watch me” line was used by Trudeau’s father, Pierre, during the October Crisis in 1970, when he was asked by a reporter how far he was prepared to go to maintain law and order in Quebec.

Moe was raised on a farm in the Shellbrook area, about 140 kilometres north of Saskatoon, where he still lives with his wife Krista. The couple has two children. Moe has a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan and was first elected as a member of the legislature in the 2011 provincial election.

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