The Canadian government's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol is illegal, alleges a suit to be filed in federal court by a law professor and former Canadian MP, Reuters reports.

Daniel Turp, professor of law at the University of Montreal and former MP, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has violated national law by withdrawing from the 1997 climate treaty last month without first consulting Parliament.

On December 12, Environment Minister Peter Kent announced Canada would become the first country to invoke its legal right to withdraw from Kyoto, arguing it would save the country around C$14 billion ($13.7 billion) by not having to comply with its emissions target under the pact.

Under Kyoto, Canada pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 6 percent below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.