UCP granted intervener status by court in carbon pricing fight

EDMONTON The United Conservative Party has been granted intervener status by a Saskatchewan court in the case against the national carbon pricing plan.

UCP Leader Jason Kenney said he was pleased with the development “despite the efforts of Justin Trudeau to block us.”

“The UCP is stepping up to fight for Albertans since the *current* Alberta government refuses to do so,” he tweeted Monday.

Last week, Ottawa argued against the United Conservative Association getting intervener status in the case brought forward by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. It will determine whether the carbon tax is constitutional.

Saskatchewan contends that a federal carbon tax could potentially reduce the province’s gross domestic product by billions of dollars with little effect on emissions.

A Wednesday letter from the federal department of justice outlined the attorney general of Canada’s position on granting various parties intervener status.

Canada told the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal that it opposes the United Conservative Association’s request on the basis that its interest is “both political and speculative.”

“Their intervention will not assist the court in dealing with the legal issues,” said the letter.

UCP house leader Jason Nixon

The UCP is stepping up to fight for Albertans since the *current* Alberta government refuses to do so.

said he knew it would be rare for an opposition party to get intervener status in the case.

Saskatchewan’s top court is set to hear the case next February.

The Court of Appeal has also granted intervener status to more than a dozen other organizations, including the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.