Ontario youth celebrating historic victory in climate case against PC government

Seven Ontario youth are celebrating a victory in a landmark case against the Ontario government’s climate policies.

The case, known as the Mathur case, was filed in 2019, following the election of Premier Doug Ford and his subsequent watering down of climate change legislation.

The case is framed around the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act which significantly weakened the former Liberal government’s emissions reduction targets. Under the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, the Ford government committed to a 30 per cent reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by 2030. The former target was 37 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

The case was dismissed in early 2023 after the Justice of the Peace ruling on the case determined that while the PC’s plan was not strong enough, it was not “grossly disproportionate” to the broader objectives of climate policy.

Despite this setback, the seven young people filed an appeal, which was won, and then had a second chance for their case to be heard.

In mid-October, a decision was handed down which sided with the youth, confirming that Ontario’s weak target is risking the lives and well-being of Ontarians.  

“With this ruling, these seven young Ontarians have proven how crucial youth voices are in the fight against climate change. Their victory is a significant moment for climate action in Canada and serves as a beacon of hope,” Fraser Thomson, a lawyer with Ecojustice, said in a press release. 

The case has now been handed back down to the lower court to make a final decision.