Provincial Justice Minister and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer says courts are starting to resume in Alberta and Canada.
Schweitzer says he now is looking to continue Alberta’s fight against the federal government’s carbon tax.
He mentions that the Supreme Court of Canada is starting to get back to normal operations.
“The Supreme Court is starting to get its wheels going, but it has been delayed twice, so we are waiting to see when that will be firmed up,” explains Schweitzer.
The minister adds that the province is also working to get its courts back in action.
“We have our appeals court pretty much fully operational,” says Schweitzer. “The Queen’s Bench and provincial court are starting to get their wheels in motion more and more every day, but we are still awaiting direction from the Supreme Court of Canada.”
The province won its appeal in the Alberta Supreme Court in February to bring the case to Canada’s top court.
Schweitzer says Ottawa is trying to trample what he calls centuries of legal precedents on how powers are divided between the federal government and provinces.
He points to the ruling at the province’s Supreme Court as a reason for optimism.
“The court stated that the carbon tax is a trojan horse that is going to let the federal government intrude into provincial affairs,” he says.
Schweitzer also says that there is a reason for the division of powers between Ottawa and provinces.
“We are not the same as Quebec or Prince Edward Island here in Alberta,” mentions Schweitzer.
“We have the ability to develop this policy and we have done it responsibly and that is the message we received from the Alberta Supreme Court in its decision and I hope that that holds the day at the Supreme Court (of Canada).”
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
