Friday was the last day for organizations and provinces to file for intervener status in the Saskatchewan carbon tax case. Three groups have filed in favour of Ottawa’s proposed carbon tax. Ecojustice, The David Suzuki Foundation, The National Farmers Union and an Alberta First Nation are the groups to join in support of the tax while on Thursday, New Brunswick announced they will be joining Saskatchewan in their fight against the tax. Justice Minister, Don Morgan says Ottawa has the right to impose a nation-wide tax although not one that will see each province treated differently.

“There’s no doubt the federal government has the right to levy a tax but our position is they do not have a right to levy a tax that is different or punitive against one province rather then the other.”

Morgan adds with New Brunswick on board to fight the tax alongside Saskatchewan, it shows that people are starting to realize that the federal government’s way of trying to reduce emissions is not the best to tool to go about it.

Ontario is also challenging Ottawa’s plan in court even though their government announced its own plan on Thursday.

The federal government has asked the provinces to put a minimum price on emissions by $20 a tonne by January 1st and the provinces that haven’t signed onto the plan or developed their own will have the tax imposed on them in April.

Saskatchewan has asked for the provincial Court of Appeal to determine whether or not the federally imposed carbon tax is constitutional.