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Pleased to see that the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has granted the UCP intervenor status in the carbon tax challenge - despite the efforts of Justin Trudeau to block us. The UCP is stepping up to fight for Albertans since the *current* Alberta Government refuses to do so. pic.twitter.com/CChsFyR2UG — Jason Kenney (@jkenney) December 10, 2018

Last week, Ottawa argued against the United Conservative Association getting intervener status in the case brought forward by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. It will determine whether the carbon tax is constitutional.

Saskatchewan contends that a federal carbon tax could potentially reduce the province’s gross domestic product by billions of dollars with little effect on emissions.

A Wednesday letter from the federal department of justice outlined the attorney general of Canada’s position on granting various parties intervener status.

Canada told the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal that it opposes the United Conservative Association’s request on the basis that its interest is “both political and speculative.”

“Their intervention will not assist the court in dealing with the legal issues,” said the letter.

UCP house leader Jason Nixon said he knew it would be rare for an opposition party to get intervener status in the case.

The case is scheduled to be heard by Saskatchewan’s top court next February.

The Court of Appeal has also granted intervener status to more than a dozen other organizations, including the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

With files from the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

cclancy@postmedia.com

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