Saskatchewan carbon tax challenge: Court of Appeal rules in favour of federal government

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) also applauded the ruling supporting the constitutionality of the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, saying this decision affirms the right and the responsibility of the federal government to set national standards for carbon pricing in Canada.

“We are pleased with the Court’s ruling affirming the role of the federal government in protecting the health of Canadians,” says Richard Musto, chair of CPHA’s Board of Directors, in a released statement. “All levels of government need to act in a coordinated fashion to prevent negative health outcomes from carbon pollution.”

“Our collective response to climate change can also be ‘the greatest health opportunity of this century’ as many of the policies needed to fight climate change, such as carbon pollution pricing, will also produce health co-benefits, such as reduced health care costs, and improve social cohesion and equity in our communities,” said Ian Culbert, CPHA’s executive director.

“Climate change is a critical public health issue that threatens to undermine the past century of gains for population health in Canada and around the world,” added Culbert. “The resulting health outcomes in Canada include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, the spread of vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease and the Zika virus, physical and psychological trauma and death.”