B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim
HALIFAX — British Columbia’s premier says his government is providing “full support” to Newfoundland and Labrador’s court challenge over federal equalization payments and mulling its own claim in an effort to ensure fair treatment from Ottawa.
David Eby says there are differences in the legal arguments B.C. would make, but the two provinces are united in the goal of reversing what he described as “perverse outcomes” from the equalization program for B.C. and Newfoundland taxpayers.
Eby says his New Democrat government will intervene in Newfoundland’s case “at the appropriate moment,” and B.C. officials will share information to support the other province’s claim at the trial level while co-ordinating on legal strategy.
Eby says his government will also look at whether the province should file its own legal claim in B.C. over Ottawa’s handling of the equalization program.