Saskatchewanians Launch Sarcastic Campaign to Fight Province’s New EV Tax

The new tax on electric vehicles in Saskatchewan is making a lot of folks angry. It went into effect on October 1 and charges $150 per year for every EV registered in the province.

“These vehicles contribute to wear and tear on provincial roadways, but because they do not consume traditional fuels they are not contributing to highway maintenance through the provincial Fuel Tax," the government previously said.

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Adding insult to injury for EV adopters, Saskatchewan has no rebates or incentives similar to those available in Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.  

A group of citizens is now making a mockery of the situation by demanding a tax… for sidewalk users. The group, called Saskatchewanians for Sidewalk Sustenance (SSS), says if the province wants to punish people who should otherwise be rewarded for helping protect the environment, it might as well do the same with those who hit the sidewalk instead of the road.

“Every day, thousands of people walk all over our sidewalks, push heavy strollers and shopping carts, even use motorized vehicles and bicycles. But are they contributing to the extra upkeep? This makes sure they do,” says the sarcastic president of SSS, Lou Acera.

The group is planning a press conference to reveal “the concrete proof,” and post a list of shoes that are scientifically assessed by SSS to have less impact on sidewalks than most footwear.

On a more serious note, SSS wants Saskatchewan to pause the implementation of its EV tax until more people adopt these vehicles (at least 1.3 percent like in California, which also has a similar tax). As it stands now, they say the tax will dissuade people who are thinking about getting rid of their ICE-powered car while not raising any significant amount of money.

There are roughly 600 EVs registered in the province, which means the tax would generate $90,000 a year—enough to repair approximately 140 metres of highway based on the average costs in Saskatchewan. Of course, this does not include the administrative costs of the new tax.

SSS is offering owners who have already paid their EV tax to give them their $150 back or donate it to the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.