Climate Justice Saskatoon says it is disappointed by the decision from the Court of King’s Bench, which granted the Government of Saskatchewan and SaskPower’s motions to strike the organization’s climate lawsuit.

In an emailed news release Climate Justice Saskatoon says it joined the legal action to stand with other people and challenge government actions it believes are worsening the climate crisis.

They say that the decision is a setback, but it doesn’t change the urgent need for climate justice in Saskatchewan, and the organization remains steadfast in its belief that the province must be held accountable for its role in exacerbating climate harms.

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) says the lawsuit argued that government action to expand natural gas-fired electricity violates Charter rights because of its negative climate change impacts.  SES says the lawsuit asked the Court to order SaskPower to set a credible target for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but the Court has ruled that the case will not proceed.

SES President Margret Asmuss described it as a deeply disappointing outcome and said, “This case raises urgent and fundamental questions about climate change and human rights. We believe it should have been heard in full.”