The Province of Manitoba has received expert legal opinion on the constitutionality of the federal government’s carbon pricing benchmark and backstop proposals.

Dr. Bryan Schwartz of the University of Manitoba concludes the federal government has the constitutional authority to impose its carbon pricing scheme on Manitoba.

He also concludes the provincial government has a credible legal avenue in proposing a ‘Made-in-Manitoba’ carbon pricing approach.

The federal government has stated its intention to bring about carbon pricing in all provinces beginning in 2018.