The Saskatchewan Environmental Society says it welcomes several commitments on the environment announced in the federal government’s Throne Speech this week. Of particular significance is the plan to protect one quarter of Canada’s land and oceans in the next five years, and the plan to create thousands of new jobs by helping homeowners and businesses to begin energy efficient retrofits.

As to the former, the Society says the Great Sand Hills in Southern Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan portion of the Saskatchewan River Delta should be prime candidates for protection. As to the latter, the Society says the retrofit announcement is welcome because there is no Saskatchewan government program to promote home energy efficiency retrofits or retrofits in the commercial sector.

The Society also welcomes the announcement of a Clean Power Fund that will connect regions of Canada that have surplus clean power to regions transitioning away from coal. The Society says Saskatchewan relies on coal for meeting more than 40 per cent of its electricity demand.