The Saskatchewan government announced they will be paying approximately $400,000 to $500,000 in outside lawyer fees for their upcoming constitutional challenge of the carbon tax.
On Thursday following question period at the legislature, Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said they have retained the services of law firm MLT Aikins. He admitted the hire will result in a “significant cost” for the government.
When asked why the government wanted to seek outside help for this case, Morgan said they want to do everything they can to make sure they are successful before the Supreme Court of Canada.
“It’s a significant amount of money, make no mistake. But we think the importance of having a strong precedent and the best representation we can have for our province is absolutely critical,” stated the minister.
When compared to the costs for the government’s in-house counsel from the constitutional law branch, Morgan explained that the fees are much lower. It consists of court filing fees, incurred staff time, and travel and accommodations expenses which total around $1,000-$2,000.
He mentioned they have really good lawyers in the constitutional law branch, but the government wants to give themselves a good opportunity for this court challenge.
“We want to do everything we could to make sure we’re successful before the Supreme Court,” said Morgan. “The precedent we’re setting here is very important to not only Saskatchewan [but] to all of Canada.”
While Saskatchewan is still intervening in Alberta’s case on the carbon tax in front of the Alberta Court of Appeal, Morgan confirmed that MLT Aikins will not be assisting in that case.
Saskatchewan’s challenge is set to be heard in front of the Supreme Court of Canada in March.
