23 October, 2018 (TORONTO) In response to the federal government’s announcement on carbon pricing, Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada said:
“This move makes it clear that no one gets to sit out the fight against climate change. Putting a price on pollution is a positive step towards creating green jobs in the new clean energy economy. This step must be followed by many others so that Canada’s actions are consistent with what scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.”
The national carbon price will affect New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, all provinces with governments that have neglected to establish their own systems that meet the federal standard.
The Ford government introduced a regulation and legislation in July to cancel Ontario’s cap-and-trade program, and the province’s carbon reduction targets. Greenpeace, represented by lawyers from Ecojustice, took the Ford government to court in September.
The lawsuit alleges that the Ford government unlawfully failed to provide for public consultation on a regulation that ended Ontario’s cap-and-trade program and on Bill 4, the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, currently before the legislature. The case also asks the Court to quash the regulation.
Hours after the lawsuit was filed, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks posted a notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario providing for a 30-day public consultation period for Bill 4, Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018.
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For more information, contact:
Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada, is available for comment. To arrange an interview, please contact Steve Cornwell, 519-418-0071, [email protected]
