By Canadian Press

Chiefs of Ontario asks for judicial review of carbon price regime

Nov 30, 2023 | 10:53 AM

TORONTO — First Nations leaders in Ontario are asking a court to review what they call Canada’s “discriminatory” carbon price system.

A group representing more than 130 First Nations in the province has filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court, saying the system places an unjust price on their communities without suitable cost relief.

The Chiefs of Ontario says the federal government failed to meaningfully engage with repeated attempts to find a solution and denied their request for an exemption only to then make a carveout targeting concerns in Atlantic Canada last month.

The application asks the court to order the government back to the table to negotiate a solution that upholds the carbon price’s purpose to “alleviate the climate crisis” without worsening the “human rights crisis” experienced by First Nations.

The group says northern and remote First Nations already face high fuel costs with limited ability to transition to low-carbon alternatives.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Although the carbon price is designed to be revenue-neutral in large part through an income-tax rebate, the application says many First Nations members don’t have ready access to that cost relief because they don’t use the federal income tax system.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2023.

The Canadian Press