Sask. climate activists have first day in court in lawsuit to decarbonize electrical grid
A group of climate activists suing the Saskatchewan government over its bid to build more gas-powered electric plants will soon have its first day in court.
The group of seven individuals aged 15 to 80, and Climate Justice Saskatoon filed its lawsuit in March 2023, arguing the government’s continued development of fossil fuel electric plants violates people’s Charter rights by exacerbating dangerous climate change.
They’re asking the court to order SaskPower, the Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan government to prepare plans to decarbonize the electrical grid.
On Friday, the litigation will be heard in a Regina courtroom for the first time as a King’s Bench judge rules on whether to grant the Saskatchewan Environmental Society intervener status.
“We anticipate hearing oral arguments from SES, from the government lawyers, from the SaskPower and CIC lawyers, and from the legal team for the main applicants,” the Saskatchewan Coalition for Sustainable Development said in an update on its website.
Court will hear from Robert Halliday, a Saskatoon water resource engineer who’s bringing the application on behalf of the environmental society.
“My interest in SaskPower’s generation matters was sharpened by the challenges the organization faced in meeting cooling water demands at the Boundary Dam power station during the 1980s drought,” he wrote in his affidavit before the court.
“That matter was addressed by pumping the Estevan aquifer; 30 years later the aquifer still has not recovered.”
A spokesperson for SaskPower said the company could not comment on the case as it was still before the courts.
The coalition’s youngest member, 15-year-old Tommy Douglas Collegiate student Sabrina Dykstra, says the threat of climate change overshadows many of the things she does.
The coalition’s youngest member, 15-year-old Tommy Douglas Collegiate student Sabrina Dykstra. (Source: Sask. Coalition for Sustainable Development)
“As climate change progresses, I can foresee a multitude of issues that may arise across my lifetime,” she wrote in her affidavit.
“It will be less safe to be outdoors in extreme weather. The air will be even less clean to breathe. Droughts could severely affect the wellbeing of ecosystems.”
Dykstra says she’s made changes to her behaviour to reduce her own emission, and she expects her government to do the same.
“My attempts at personal change are futile if the Saskatchewan government doesn’t take it seriously,’ she said.
“I often feel hopeless, because so many people just don’t care … This year, I also heard our Premier, the Honourable Scott Moe, say that even he ‘doesn’t care’ that our [greenhouse gas] emissions in Saskatchewan are the highest per capita in Canada.”
A spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Justice told CTV News the government stands behind its decision to build natural gas-fired power plants.
"This is the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province without causing undue harm to our people and our economy," the emailed statement said.
The spokesperson declined to comment further as the matter is before the courts, but he said the province is aware that "similar litigation has been commenced in many places around the world."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Should Canada be America's 51st state? Trump was 'teasing us,' says minister
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with all opposition leaders today before question period to brief them about his meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
Canada Post removes deadline for Santa letter program amid strike
Canada Post says it has removed the deadline for its Santa Claus letter program amid an ongoing national workers' strike that has halted mail delivery leading up to the holiday season.
Young Manitoba woman dies after medical emergency during dental appointment
The Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) said it is investigating a critical incident where a young woman from the Morden-Winkler area died following a dental appointment.
South Korean parliament votes to defy president by lifting his declaration of martial law
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate 'anti-state' forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country's parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.
Jewish pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Ottawa parliament building
A group of Jewish-Canadian activists protesting Israel's ongoing armed offensive in Gaza have occupied a parliamentary building in Ottawa on Tuesday morning.
Toronto library apologizes after staff at east-end branch refuse to help lost girl
The Toronto Public Library is apologizing after staff at a branch in the city’s east end refused to provide a lost child with access to a telephone.
2 Ontario men charged after police seize US$40M in suspected cocaine from tractor-trailer in Illinois
Two Ontario men are facing charges after police in the U.S. say they seized 540 kilograms of cocaine from a tractor-trailer along Interstate 80 in Illinois.
Quebec prisons on lockdown after correctional officer severely beaten
Quebec prisons were in lockdown on Tuesday after a correction officer at the Sorel-Tracy detention centre was attacked this week.
This salad brand is being recalled again. Here's why
A Taylor Farms salad kit is being recalled over concerns of a salmonella contamination, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.