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Photo by Chris Hindy via Flickr. Image obtained under Creative Commons. 

Ontario
Victory

Ontario: Fighting to uphold federal jurisdiction over climate change action

Reference re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act

July 3, 2019

The Ontario government challenged the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act,  heard in the province’s Court of Appeal in April 2019. The court examined whether the act was, as a whole or in part, constitutional. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has turned climate inaction — cancelling Ontario’s cap and trade program and defying the carbon price — into one of his signature policies.

Ecojustice was again given leave to intervene in the Ontario case in support of the federal government, representing both the David Suzuki Foundation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

On June 28, 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal issued their decision in Reference re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act C65807.

The court confirmed the federal government has the power to step in when the province fails to effectively tackle climate change. The court found “the need for a collective approach to a matter of national concern, and the risk of non-participation by one or more provinces, permits Canada to adopt minimum national standards to reduce GHG emissions. The Act does this and no more. It leaves ample scope for provincial legislation in relation to the environment, climate change and GHGs, while narrowly constraining federal jurisdiction to address the risk of provincial inaction.”

Climate change is a national emergency that requires an urgent response. Ecojustice is fighting to ensure the federal government has the ability to respond to that emergency.

Protecting the environment is a shared federal and provincial responsibility. Provinces across Canada should be required to work towards implementing a fair system that holds polluters to account for putting communities and the climate at risk by increasing greenhouse gas pollution in our atmosphere.

Canada will not be able to meet its international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if provinces are allowed to opt out of taking action.

What does this victory mean?

A victory means that the federal government will have the ability to respond to climate change, a national emergency. Climate change will affect the health and security of all Canadians, and only a short window of time remains to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone in Canada deserves the security of safe climate, and no province should be allowed to put that at risk through their inaction.

Jul 2019
Justin Trudeau stands and holds a microphone.
blog

There’s no sunny middle way out of a climate emergency

The Ontario Court of Appeal recently handed a win to the federal government—and dealt a blow to Doug Ford and other premiers bent on derailing the national carbon price—when it found the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act constitutional.
Jun 2019
Paddlers canoeing on lake.
blog

Victory! Doug Ford handed another “L” on climate

Today we’re celebrating another major court victory for the climate and for Canadians.
Jun 2019
Paddlers canoeing on lake.
press release

Ontario Court of Appeal hands Doug Ford another “L” on climate change

Toronto, June 28, 2019 – In a judgement handed down today, the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed the federal government has the power to step in when the province fails to effectively tackle climate change.
Apr 2019
Ontario residents protest climate policy outside Osgood Hall in Toronto
blog

Premier Doug Ford is dragging Ontario down the wrong road on climate change. We’re in court to stop him

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has vowed to derail the national carbon price.
Dec 2018
Ontario Legislative Building
press release

Groups apply to Ontario court to support effective national effort on climate change

David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice intervene to protect health and act on climate OTTAWA — The David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice announced today that they will enter the legal battle over carbon pricing by requesting intervener status in the upcoming Ontario court reference case.
Aug 2018
Doug Ford addresses an audience in Sudbury, Ontario
press release

Ontario’s challenge to federal carbon pricing legislation wasteful and irresponsible, Ecojustice says

TORONTO — Ecojustice lawyer Amir Attaran issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that Ontario will be moving forward with a constitutional challenge of federal carbon tax legislation: “The Ontario government is already having a kick at this particular can in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.