• Carney government dealt an early blow in climate litigation

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-21 17:36:13.0
  Tags: [National, Environment, Climate, Justice, Governance]

  The Federal Court rejected a procedural motion by the federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney to strike down a climate lawsuit brought by three young Canadians and two environmental groups, including Ecojustice. The lawsuit, filed in June 2026, challenges the Carney government's implementation of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act and alleges that the administration eliminated key measures required to achieve Canada's 2030 emissions targets. Justice Patrick Gleeson ruled that the statutory use of the word 'may' in the legislation requires contextual evaluation rather than granting absolute ministerial discretion, allowing the environmental lawsuit to proceed to a full hearing.

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• Carney government asks court to strike down climate litigation

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-08-29 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Environment, Climate, Justice, Governance]

  The federal government filed a motion in the Federal Court to strike down an environmental lawsuit brought by three youth and two advocacy groups, which demands that Ottawa amend its climate plan under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. The government argues in its legal submissions that the statute uses the permissive word "may" rather than "shall," imposing no legal obligation to update emissions targets or plans, and that federal courts lack the institutional capacity to direct national climate policy. The lawsuit challenges recent Liberal government rollbacks and policy changes that eliminated key measures required to achieve Canada's legally binding 2030 emissions reduction targets.

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