In a ruling passed down this morning, the Supreme Court of Canada has denied the Government of Saskatchewan's appeal to declare the federal carbon tax as 'unconstitutional.'

The 6-3 decision marks the final nail in the coffin for the governments of Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Alberta's legal battle with the federal government. The justices ruled that the federal government does in fact, have the constitutional power to establish a price for greenhouse gas emissions. 

Chief Justice Richard Wagner was among the majority citing the threat of climate change as a legitimate cause for the pricing of carbon emissions.

"Climate change is real," wrote Wagner. "It is caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities, and it poses a grave threat to humanity's future."

The carbon tax, known legally as the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, was passed by the federal government in 2018. It sets a minimum price on carbon emissions and imposes a federal pricing system in provinces that don’t meet that price with a system of their own.

Premier Scott Moe will be commenting on the decision at noon today, Mar. 25.

Check back later for more updates.