Lawyer defends federal carbon tax in Alberta Court of Appeal

A lawyer defending the federal carbon tax in the Alberta Court of Appeal says national measures are required to fight the greatest challenge of our time.

Sharlene Telles-Langdon told court in Edmonton that the problem and the scientific understanding of climate change have grown enough that federal action is justified.

Telles-Langdon also said the carbon tax law is part of living up to international climate change treaties, which only Ottawa has the power to join.

Alberta is challenging the federal levy on grounds that it’s an intrusion into provincial powers that isn’t justified by the Constitution.