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
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.