Catherine McKenna, Canada's environment minister, speaks to reporters on May 3, 2019. (Submitted/CPAC)
A Saskatchewan court has ruled in favour of the Trudeau government’s carbon tax.
In a 3-2 decision released Friday, the province’s Court of Appeal ruled the federal government’s carbon-pricing plan is constitutional.
New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan became subject to the plan on April 1 after their plans did not meet federal standards.
Federal environment minister Catherine McKenna said the ruling was quite clear on several fronts.
“Not only did it find that a price on pollution is constitutional, but it is an essential part of any credible plan to tackle the global challenge of climate change,” said McKenna.
Today's decision is a win for Canadians and for future generations. It cannot be free to pollute in Canada. It confirms that putting a price on carbon pollution and returning the revenues to Canadians is not only constitutional, it is effective and essential. pic.twitter.com/7eSmuk1XYJ
— Catherine McKenna 🇨🇦 (@cathmckenna) May 3, 2019
McKenna said she hopes conservative politicians “will stop fighting pricing pollution … and start fighting climate change” with her government.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking at the Canada Youth Summit in Ottawa, said the federal government “absolutely can and must regulate greenhouse gas emissions.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.
“Today’s ruling was a 3-2 split decision, with two judges providing a detailed dissenting opinion that the carbon tax is, in fact, unconstitutional,” he said. “So, there are strong grounds for an appeal.”
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