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Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall agrees with Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau that climate change and economic health aren’t mutually exclusive — but he differs on how to get there.

“Where I would not agree with him is that a carbon tax is somehow inextricably linked to a strong economy. A new tax on things is probably not going to be helpful,” Wall said at a news conference Friday morning.

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“We want to have a strong policy in this province to fight climate change. Our position will be that focusing on taxes is probably not the best way to do it, especially if it poses a risk to our economy — to jobs in Saskatchewan.”

Canada is responsible for 1.6 per cent of global carbon emissions, while China and India are building 1,000 coal plants, he said.

Instead of a tax, Wall said he is instead keen on technological innovation, such as the Boundary Dam carbon capture plant, to fight climate change. A white paper on climate change is upcoming, he said.

“Indulgences are not going to deal with the problem here. Paying a sort of environmental guilt payment in the form of a carbon tax isn’t going to get us to the point where we have reduced emissions. Technology will. More renewables will.”

jcharlton@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/J_Charlton