It's Good News Friday
Canadian Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Carbon Tax
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN 4 MINUTES?
Read these articles and feel better about life!
Only have 4 minutes – check out our highlights
Got more time – read an article or two
1.The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the carbon tax — here’s what might happen next CBC News Calgary
2.Supreme Court rules Ottawa’s carbon tax is constitutional CBC News
3.EXPLAINER: Canada’s Supreme Court rules carbon price constitutional. Here’s what you need to know The Narwhal
4.Canada’s carbon price is constitutional, Supreme Court rules Global News
References
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the carbon tax — here’s what might happen next CBC News Calgary
Supreme Court rules Ottawa’s carbon tax is constitutional CBC News
EXPLAINER: Canada’s Supreme Court rules carbon price constitutional. Here’s what you need to know The Narwhal
Canada’s carbon price is constitutional, Supreme Court rules Global News
GOAL
Good News Friday will lift our spirits and take us into a great weekend!
WHO?
Anyone who pays attention to current affairs cares about the environment, social services, democracy, fairness, the truth…
SOLUTION
Every Friday, instead of focusing on the negative and on the things we want to change, we focus on what’s already good in the world and spend time learning and sharing this news.
“Moving forward, [we will] ensure that Canada will be able to not only meet, but exceed its obligations under the Paris agreement,“
– Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on the the West of Centre podcast via CBC News
Highlights
Here’s to Peace, Order, and Good Government!
The POGG Clause was enacted by the Supreme Court of Canada to ensure all provinces are held to carbon emissions standards.
The threat of climate change is so great that it demands a coordinated national approach.
While some provinces have forcefully opposed the carbon tax, it was ruled that climate change is a pressing matter of national concern and it’s constitutionally permissible for Ottawa to take the lead on a threat that crosses provincial boundaries.
Chief Justice Richard Wagner, writing for the majority, said the federal government is free to impose minimum pricing standards because the threat of climate change is so great that it demands a coordinated national approach.
Wagner found that Ottawa can act under the Constitution’s “peace, order and good government” clause, better known as POGG — which gives the federal government authority to enact laws to deal with issues that concern the entire country.
The POGG doctrine applies when there is a “provincial inability to deal with the matter” and where the “failure of one or more provinces to co-operate would prevent the other provinces from successfully addressing it.”
Wagner said a patchwork approach — with some provinces refusing to impose a price on carbon — would hinder Canada’s collective fight against climate change. He said there is a “broad consensus among international bodies” that carbon pricing is a “critical measure for the reduction of GHG emissions.”
“We will also ensure that we’re building an economy that’s going to create jobs and economic opportunity for all regions of the country.” Minister of the Environment Jonathan Wilkinson on the West of Centre podcast via CBC News