Donations
Climate Justice Saskatoon is accepting donations to support this legal action.
Donations can be made via etransfer to climateactionsk@gmail.com
Donations can be made via etransfer to climateactionsk@gmail.com
Court Action - Latest Update (Nov 16, 2023)
Our court case was filed in April of 2023 and after several months of delays by the respondent government and SaskPower, we now have a hearing date for the first stage of the action. On April 5, 2024, there will be a special hearing to consider the applications to strike our action that have been filed separately by the government and SaskPower. We anticipate that they will be serving our lawyers with their materials on or before February 5, 2024, and we will have to file a response brief by March 5, 2024.
Our action is asking the court to consider if our Charter rights to life, security of person, and equality rights for young people are being violated when SaskPower builds new gas generation plants that will exacerbate dangerous climate change. Climate Justice Saskatoon, along with many reputable energy analysts, knows building new fossil fuel infrastructure is incompatible with a net zero future. Furthermore, as countries around the world move to price pollution, gas generation is also anticipated to be more expensive than clean renewable energy.
You can help. SaskPower’s ongoing consultation process is cast as a “conversation about Saskatchewan’s power future.” Please visit their website and offer your thoughts about our future supply to 2030 and beyond: https://engage.saskpower.com/hub-page/future-supply-plan-2030-and-beyond. One of the most important things we need to do to stop dangerous climate change is to stop burning fossil fuels. That is why we need to decarbonize our electricity as soon as possible, so that there is a clean alternative energy source to replace our addiction to polluting fossil fuels.
Our action is asking the court to consider if our Charter rights to life, security of person, and equality rights for young people are being violated when SaskPower builds new gas generation plants that will exacerbate dangerous climate change. Climate Justice Saskatoon, along with many reputable energy analysts, knows building new fossil fuel infrastructure is incompatible with a net zero future. Furthermore, as countries around the world move to price pollution, gas generation is also anticipated to be more expensive than clean renewable energy.
You can help. SaskPower’s ongoing consultation process is cast as a “conversation about Saskatchewan’s power future.” Please visit their website and offer your thoughts about our future supply to 2030 and beyond: https://engage.saskpower.com/hub-page/future-supply-plan-2030-and-beyond. One of the most important things we need to do to stop dangerous climate change is to stop burning fossil fuels. That is why we need to decarbonize our electricity as soon as possible, so that there is a clean alternative energy source to replace our addiction to polluting fossil fuels.
Court Action - Update (Oct 6, 2023)
I met with the lawyers for the SK Government and SaskPower on Sept 29, 2023, over video conference. Counsel for the government has since reached out to the Regina, SK Court Registrar and booked us for a special hearing on the Applications to Strike our action. It has been confirmed that March 8, 2024 is our first special hearing date to argue the Applications to Strike.
We were served with applications to strike our action on September 14 (one from the govt, and one from SaskPower). We then agreed to two consent orders (virtually identical, but required for each separate Application) to schedule the timeline for written submissions and a special hearing. The materials proposing this special hearing and schedule for filings have now all been filed to the court. Based on the timelines in the Consent Order, that would mean that the briefs of law from the government and SaskPower would be due by January 1, 2024, and our brief of law due on February 1, 2024.
If we are successful, the applications to strike will be dismissed and that will move our main action forward to be heard on its full merits and evidence. I anticipate that the judge will reserve a decision after oral submissions in March 2024, and we may not know whether we are successful on the applications to strike until May or June of 2024 (though I suppose it is possible that the decision may be delayed longer than that).
We were served with applications to strike our action on September 14 (one from the govt, and one from SaskPower). We then agreed to two consent orders (virtually identical, but required for each separate Application) to schedule the timeline for written submissions and a special hearing. The materials proposing this special hearing and schedule for filings have now all been filed to the court. Based on the timelines in the Consent Order, that would mean that the briefs of law from the government and SaskPower would be due by January 1, 2024, and our brief of law due on February 1, 2024.
If we are successful, the applications to strike will be dismissed and that will move our main action forward to be heard on its full merits and evidence. I anticipate that the judge will reserve a decision after oral submissions in March 2024, and we may not know whether we are successful on the applications to strike until May or June of 2024 (though I suppose it is possible that the decision may be delayed longer than that).
Court Action - Update (June 8, 2023)
Our first court date was scheduled to be May 4, 2023, but it was adjourned at the request of opposing counsel to June 6, 2023 (we consented to that adjournment). On June 6, 2023, we only argued the preliminary application to have our minor applicant, Ms. Sabrina Dykstram, who is 15 years old, to be granted standing to participate in this action as though she is an adult. We presented our argument as to why Ms. Dykstra should be granted leave of the court, but the court yesterday reserved its decision (meaning it is likely to issue within a few weeks). We did state to the court that the Applicants are interested in keeping this action moving forward because we are in a climate emergency, but we acknowledge that the court process can take time.
There is now no return date to court for our action scheduled, but we have meetings scheduled with opposing counsel in July and August to try reach an agreement as to the form and procedure of this matter as we want it to proceed in an expedient manner that makes efficient use of the Court's time. Afterall, we are in a climate emergency and the Applicants position is that we need to pursue this action with the ambition and focus it rightly deserves.
Our court file number is KB 848 of 2023 at the judicial centre of Regina. We would encourage you to read our application and affidavit evidence of the applicants directly. Their stories are compelling and attest to the harms already being experienced by dangerous climate change here in Saskatchewan.
There is now no return date to court for our action scheduled, but we have meetings scheduled with opposing counsel in July and August to try reach an agreement as to the form and procedure of this matter as we want it to proceed in an expedient manner that makes efficient use of the Court's time. Afterall, we are in a climate emergency and the Applicants position is that we need to pursue this action with the ambition and focus it rightly deserves.
Our court file number is KB 848 of 2023 at the judicial centre of Regina. We would encourage you to read our application and affidavit evidence of the applicants directly. Their stories are compelling and attest to the harms already being experienced by dangerous climate change here in Saskatchewan.
Court Action - Update (May 17, 2023)
Our initial court appearance has been delayed and will now take place in Regina on June 6, 2023.
The public discussion on our shared power future is growing. This is important, perhaps more important than the work in the courtroom because we are in a climate emergency. The federal environment minister was interviewed on May 16 on CBC radio discussing the opportunities associated with a net zero electrical grid by 2035: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-88-saskatoon-morning/clip/15985055-the-premier-says-saskatchewan-hit-net-zero-2035.-the
The public discussion on our shared power future is growing. This is important, perhaps more important than the work in the courtroom because we are in a climate emergency. The federal environment minister was interviewed on May 16 on CBC radio discussing the opportunities associated with a net zero electrical grid by 2035: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-88-saskatoon-morning/clip/15985055-the-premier-says-saskatchewan-hit-net-zero-2035.-the
Media Release - April 14, 2023
Citizens file application to halt SaskPower’s expansion of gas fired generation
| media_release_-_sk_decarbonization_future_cjs_rev_april_14_2023.pdf |
| issued_-_originating_application.pdf |
Saskatoon, SK. April 14, 2023 - Saskatchewan Power Corporation, Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Saskatchewan will be challenged in court by Saskatchewan citizens who are deeply concerned about the impacts of dangerous climate change. Climate Justice Saskatoon and seven Saskatchewan residents, aged 15 to 80, filed an application at the Court of King’s Bench on March 31, 2023, claiming that government action to expand gas-fired electricity generation violates our Charter rights to life, security of person, and equality.
SaskPower is currently building a new gas-fired electricity plant near Moose Jaw and is planning to build another near Lanigan, SK. The current provincial Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Regulations permit SaskPower to increase its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby accelerating dangerous climate change. Saskatchewan has the highest GHG emissions per capita in Canada and according to the Supreme Court of Canada and our Saskatchewan Court of Appeals, we face an existential threat to the future of all life on this planet caused by ongoing GHG emissions.
Dangerous climate change is upon us and is made worse by these inexcusable actions by our government and SaskPower. The applicants argue our Charter rights are violated and that the government has a duty to mitigate its emissions. The applicants are asking the Court to order SaskPower to set a reasonable target to decarbonize and achieve Net-zero emissions as soon as possible.
This Court application should provide helpful clarification for all parties and spur important dialogue about our shared power future.
For more information contact:
Email: info@sustainablesask.ca or climatejusticeyxe@gmail.com
SaskPower is currently building a new gas-fired electricity plant near Moose Jaw and is planning to build another near Lanigan, SK. The current provincial Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Regulations permit SaskPower to increase its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby accelerating dangerous climate change. Saskatchewan has the highest GHG emissions per capita in Canada and according to the Supreme Court of Canada and our Saskatchewan Court of Appeals, we face an existential threat to the future of all life on this planet caused by ongoing GHG emissions.
Dangerous climate change is upon us and is made worse by these inexcusable actions by our government and SaskPower. The applicants argue our Charter rights are violated and that the government has a duty to mitigate its emissions. The applicants are asking the Court to order SaskPower to set a reasonable target to decarbonize and achieve Net-zero emissions as soon as possible.
This Court application should provide helpful clarification for all parties and spur important dialogue about our shared power future.
For more information contact:
Email: info@sustainablesask.ca or climatejusticeyxe@gmail.com
