Supreme Court to Only Hear from Big Governments and Big Unions in Landmark Case

OTTAWA, ON: The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has rejected the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) application to intervene in the final stage of the British Columbia Teachers Federation’s (BCTF) decade-long legal battle with the British Columbia government. This potentially landmark case could impact the ability of governments to control public sector costs. The CTF sought intervenor status in order to offer a taxpayer perspective, who ultimately end up on the hook for the union contracts negotiated by governments across the country. It was the only citizens’ group to apply. In contrast, the SCC accepted 12 unions (in six groups) as intervenors. Seven governments will also act as intervenors (Federal, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador).