B.C. backs feds’ carbon tax plan
Will join Ottawa’s court battle
VICTORIA — British Columbia is backing the federal government in its court battles with Saskatchewan and Ontario over Ottawa’s plan to put a minimum price on carbon pollution.
Attorney General David Eby said Tuesday that B.C. will argue the federal and provincial governments share a role in addressing climate change, but the federal government has the right and responsibility to put a price on carbon pollution.
“The significance of British Columbia’s appearance in support of the many aspects of the federal government’s arguments is that we may be the only provincial government attending court in support of what the federal government is doing with this legislation,” he said. “We think the court should hear a provincial perspective in support of the federal government’s efforts.”
Saskatchewan and Ontario are asking their respective high courts to determine whether the federal government has the authority to impose a carbon tax on the provinces.
The Saskatchewan case is slated to be heard in February, while Ontario’s challenge goes to court in April.
The federal government has given the provinces until January to come up with their own carbon pricing or have targets imposed on them.
The carbon price outlined by Ottawa starts at a minimum of $20 a tonne and rises $10 annually until 2022.
New Brunswick and Manitoba also have not signed on to the federal plan.
B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said the province is already leading the country when it comes to carbon pricing with its decade-old carbon tax, but it believes the provinces should follow the national climate strategy.
“We strongly believe that the only way for Canadian provinces to fight climate change is to fight climate change together,” he said.