The Court of King’s Bench has struck down a legal challenge over the provincial government’s decision to extend the use of coal fired power plants, gravely disappointing the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. 

Back on June 18, 2025, the Province decided to continue operating conventional coal-fired power plants beyond the federally mandated shutdown deadline of December 31, 2029. SES Board Member Peter Prebble says subsequently, a challenge was issued by the SES together with Citizens for Public Justice and three individuals, as they believe it is a blatant violation of federal law. 

“Now, it hasn’t been violated yet. It will be violated in 2030. Clearly, it’s the plan of the Saskatchewan Government to violate it, and we therefor thought that the courts should be concerned about that.”

However, on Monday, Court determined that the issue was a matter for the legislature, not for the justice system.  

“We don’t share that view,” Prebble explains, saying the group might appeal the decision, but they first must consider the likelihood of winning the case as well as the financial burden it might incur. 

“The legal cost that the government is incurring, and that the courts will incur, the Environmental Society could be asked to pay those. We’re a volunteer, nonprofit organization. That would be a difficult burden for us.”

However, Prebble explains that it’s a risk that might have to be taken, as Saskatchewan’s greenhouse gas pollution levels are over eight times the world average.  He explains that Saskatchewan is an outlier amongst the provinces when it comes to decommissioning coal plants, as even Alberta did so in 2024. 

“Saskatchewan is only producing 4 per cent of the electricity in the country, but it is accounting for 24 per cent of the greenhouse gas pollution in the country from electricity generation.” 

A decision on whether the groups will appeal the verdict or not will be determined by February 11th.