The province of British Columbia has formally thrown its support behind Newfoundland and Labrador’s court action on equalization.
This province announced it was taking Ottawa to court in late May. They feel as though the formula, as it stands, is unfair and going to court is their “last resort” in the matter.
BC Premier David Eby says they are giving NL their “full support” in the court action, but they are not joining it.
Their “pledge” to Newfoundland is that they will intervene in the case when appropriate, they will share information with the province to support them at the trial level, and BC will coordinate with them on legal strategy. Eby says his province will also be looking at filing their own legal action, as they do have some difference in opinion on things such as the treatment of property values and property taxes.
Premier Andrew Furey via CPAC
Furey says while they don’t align on some of those specific issues, they agree on the nature of the lawsuit in that there should be protection of equivalent services across the country.
He says they don’t necessarily have the answers, but they want the formula revisited. Furey says they want the courts to look at the fairness of it and the mathematics behind it.
