The CTF’s lawyer’s challenged Ottawa’s arguments that a carbon tax is effective. The CTF also argued that a carbon tax is, in fact, a tax, not a “fee” or a “levy” or any other federal creation. Lastly, the CTF challenged the constitutionality of the carbon tax legislation because it allows the prime minister to impose carbon taxes in any region and at any level without giving members of Parliament vote, but, according to the constitution, only Parliament has the right to impose taxes on Canadians.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to impose a federal carbon tax on any province that doesn’t already have one. In April, Ottawa plans to start collecting a carbon tax will start at 4.7 cents per litre of gasoline and rise to 11.6 cents per litre.
British Columbia has the highest carbon tax in Canada, but, according to provincial analysis, the province’s emissions have risen five out of the last six years.
Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Ontario are arguing against the carbon tax, as well as the opposition United Conservative Party from Alberta. The federal government is joined by British Columbia in arguing for the carbon tax.
Nine groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, are supporting the federal carbon tax in court.
Only two groups are opposing the carbon tax in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal: the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan; and, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is proud to stand with farmers and the overwhelming majority of Saskatchewanians to fight the carbon tax,” said MacKay. “We’re confident that we’ll win the fight against the carbon tax in the Court of Appeal and the court of public opinion.”
