Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada on the Government of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) confirms the constitutionality of the federal carbon pricing backstop. This ruling confirms that climate change is a matter of national concern and sets a precedent for the federal government to set nation-wide minimum standards when it comes to climate action.

Canada is finally joining countries representing 50% of global GDP that know strong economic policy hinges on strong environmental policy. With this plan, people and communities across Canada can see themselves joining the huge clean economy that is taking over global markets.

This afternoon, Canada’s Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, delivered Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19, a long-anticipated fiscal update to a nation that has been humbled by and is hurting from this exceptionally difficult COVID-19 pandemic year. There are many encouraging signals in today’s announcement – and a few areas we will watch with close scrutiny.

Today the federal government introduced Canada’s first government-led climate accountability legislation. This is a piece of legislation that Climate Action Network Canada and our members and allies have been working toward for many years and a moment to celebrate in the history of Canada‘s action on climate change and the effort to make sure that climate change is no longer treated as a partisan political football in Canada.

Building a zero-carbon economy is the only reliable way to ensure Canadian prosperity and good jobs in the coming decades. CAN-Rac is pleased to see a strong financial commitment to clean transition being announced by the federal government today.