Photo Credit: Climate Justice Saskatoon Facebook
Climate Justice Saskatoon and seven concerned individuals are heading back to Court of King’s Bench in Regina to continue their legal battle against SaskPower and the Province.
In 2023, the group challenged the Province’s decision to construct and operate two new, large gas fired powerplants, as it believed the increased emissions from these plants would violate residents’ charter rights to life.
In September 2023, the Province filed a motion to strike the case. The group challenged that action in October 2024, to no avail, and the government’s application to strike the case was approved a year later.
One of those individuals, Harold Pexa, says now, the group is attempting to appeal that strike approval once again.
“I think it’s such an important issue, that it deserves to have its day in court. To rule it as non-justiciable before it can even reach that stage just doesn’t seem reasonable, so it’s really worth the appeal.”
He explains that Saskatchewan, per capita, is 30 per cent above the national average in carbon emissions, which is mainly due to electrical power generation.
“They have no regard for any measures to limit carbon emissions from generation of electricity. Saskatchewan produces about four per cent of the electrical power generated in Canada but produces 24 per cent of the emissions from generating power.”
He says further evidence that the Province has no regard for the environment is its decision to prolong the use of coal-fired power plants past 2030, against the direction of the federal government.
“They’re really defiant. It’s kind of like a kid saying to their parent, ‘You’re not the boss of me’. “
There is currently a separate lawsuit against the Province on that front, but this matter goes before the court on Friday.
“At this time, when we’re clearly in a climate emergency, to be going at full speed in the wrong direction, it really just seems like a bad way to go.”
If the appeal is denied, the matter could be taken to a higher court, and if it goes ahead, Pexa expects the Province to appeal against that decision, as well.
