(Ottawa) Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says regulations to cap emissions from oil and gas production will be released later this fall, despite a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling affecting the law federal government on the environment.
Friday’s ruling says parts of the federal environmental assessment law are unconstitutional because they could allow Ottawa to regulate activities that fall solely under provincial jurisdiction.
Guilbeault says the government is still studying the ruling, but an earlier Supreme Court decision upholding the federal government’s carbon price makes it clear that Ottawa has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions .
He also argues that the appearance of the CEO of oilsands giant Suncor before a parliamentary committee on Monday strengthens the government’s determination that such regulations are necessary.
According to Mr. Guilbeault, nothing Rich Kruger said to the natural resources committee led him to believe that the company would itself take steps to reduce its carbon footprint and help slow climate change.
The government promised during the 2021 election to issue regulations to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector and gradually reduce them by 2030, as the sector accounts for more than a quarter of Canada’s total annual emissions.