Effective Canadian climate plan at stake
OTTAWA — The David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice were today granted leave to intervene in the legal fight over carbon pricing in the Ontario court reference case. A national carbon-pricing plan is a necessary part of Canada’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb the negative environmental, economic, physical and mental health effects caused by inaction on climate change.
“It’s not fair that Canadians suffer because the Ontario government is eliminating its policies that restrict and shrink carbon pollution,” said David Suzuki Foundation science and policy director Ian Bruce. “Scientists are telling us that inaction on climate change is not an option, and Canadians agree.”
The Foundation received intervener status in the similar Saskatchewan carbon-pricing case, along with organizations representing Indigenous nations and other sectors including health care, farming and youth.
Ecojustice filed the intervention on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation in support of the federal law designed to ensure that it’s not free to pollute in Canada. A nationally coordinated effort is required if Canada is to fulfil its commitment under the Paris Agreement and prevent premature deaths and unnecessary threats to the security of Canadians due to climate change.
“Ontario’s approach to climate is completely inadequate and thwarts Canada’s efforts to meet its national carbon emission targets,” Bruce said.
Ontario’s reference case will be heard by the province’s Court of Appeal in April 2019. Ontario has launched a distinct reference case challenging the federal carbon pollution pricing plan, after cancelling its emissions cap-and-trade system, which would have complied with the federal standard.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Theresa Beer, David Suzuki Foundation: tbeer@davidsuzuki.org, 778-874-3396
Catharine Tunnacliffe, Ecojustice: ctunnacliffe@ecojustice.ca, 416-368-7533 x 542
About:
The David Suzuki Foundation (davidsuzuki.org) is a leading Canadian environmental non-profit organization, collaborating with all people in Canada, including government and business, to conserve the environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through evidence-based research, public engagement and policy work. The Foundation operates in English and French, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
The University of Ottawa and Ecojustice, Canada’s largest environmental law charity, are partners in the uOttawa-Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic, a problem-based educational learning course designed to help train the next generation of environmental law and policy leaders.