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“In June, we were disappointed to learn that in a split decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal did not accept our position that the federal carbon tax is unconstitutional,” he said in a statement.

“We remain committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight against the job-killing carbon tax … that is why we filed our appeal of the decision on the carbon tax to the Supreme Court of Canada.”

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau criticized Ontario for its appeal Wednesday, saying the province has no plan for the environment “beyond stickers on gas pumps and now a costly and unnecessary Supreme Court challenge.” He also called the case a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“This is not the course Ontarians want their government to take but we will defend our plan because it is the right thing to do now and for our future,” he said in a statement.

The Progressive Conservatives have earmarked about $30 million to fight the federal carbon price in court and wage a public relations battle with Ottawa over the tax. That fight includes making gas station owners place anti-carbon tax stickers on pumps across the province by Friday.

Ontario NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns said the appeal will leave taxpayers with a multimillion-dollar bill for a “political stunt”.

“We should be leading the fight against the climate crisis, not fuelling the fire and burning public money,” he said in a statement.

We will defend our plan

Green party Leader Mike Schreiner said the appeal was frustrating.