UCP granted intervener status in carbon case

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 Party getting intervener status in the case brought forward by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. It will determine if 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 said he knew it would be rare for an opposition party to get intervener status in the case.

The case is scheduled to be heard by Saskatchewan’s top court 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.