News Release

Supreme Court ruling against anti-pipeline legislation a huge win for taxpayers

Franco Terrazzano Oct 13, 2023 | Federal

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is celebrating the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling against the Impact Assessment Act. The CTF were official interveners at the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court’s decision is a huge win for Canadian taxpayers and resource workers,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “This means the feds can’t use this law to stop premiers like Scott Moe or Danielle Smith or François Legault from developing resources to create jobs for people in their provinces.”

The Supreme Court ruled against the Impact Assessment Act, which was passed by the Trudeau government in 2019. 

The CTF’s lawyer argued that the law blurs federal and provincial accountability for resource development and creates duplication within federal and provincial bureaucracies.

In 2019, the CTF calculated that politicians blocking pipelines could cost taxpayers $12.8 billion between 2013 and 2023, by reducing the federal government’s revenue.

“When governments stop resource development, taxpayers pay,” Terrazzano said. “We need to be able to develop Canadian resources to create jobs and pay for hospitals, schools and lower taxes.

“Today is a great day for taxpayers and resource workers.”