Press Release: SES reacts to Court ruling in Sask. coal extension case

PRESS RELEASE
Saskatchewan Environmental Society
January 14, 2026
For immediate release

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society reacts to Court ruling in Saskatchewan coal extension case

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society is disappointed by the Court of King’s Bench’s January 12, 2026 ruling striking our legal challenge (KBG-SA-00865-2025) on procedural grounds related to the Court’s role. Our challenge concerned the Government of Saskatchewan’s June 18, 2025 decision to continue operating conventional coal-fired power plants well beyond the federally mandated shutdown deadline of December 31, 2029, and was filed together with Citizens for Public Justice and three individuals. The Court did not assess evidence or decide whether extending coal-fired power generation is lawful, justified, or in the public interest, but instead ruled that such questions are not for the courts to determine.

This ruling does not change the scientific facts about coal pollution or the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Canada. “The environmental and health risks posed by extending coal use for many more years remain just as serious as ever,” said Margret Asmuss, SES President. “Saskatchewan residents deserve responsible, evidence-based energy planning that protects people, communities, the economy, and the environment.”

Coal use is declining throughout the developed world, and every other province in Canada has already phased out its coal-fired power stations or is committed to doing so by 2030. Saskatchewan is the outlier. Coal is the most polluting way to generate electricity and extending its use contradicts clear scientific evidence, the direction of modern electricity systems, and our national commitments.

Saskatchewan’s decision to extend coal also increases the province’s exposure to climate-related disruptions that are becoming more frequent and more severe. “The Prairies are warming at roughly twice the global rate and Saskatchewan is already feeling the strain of climate change, including extreme heat, dangerous wildfire smoke and other damages, drought, floods, and stressed water supplies,” said Elaine Wheaton, SES board member and climate scientist. “Keeping coal plants running well beyond 2030 would only worsen these risks.”

Extending coal is also expensive and short-sighted. Investing in outdated infrastructure will raise costs for Saskatchewan families while delaying the transition to more affordable and reliable technologies. “Extending old coal plants isn’t a plan for the future—it’s a costly detour,”said Bob Halliday,SES Vice President. “While other provinces attract investment in wind, solar, energy efficiency and storage, and grid innovation, Saskatchewan delays these opportunities by doubling down on coal. This means missing out on new jobs, technology development, and long-term economic resilience.”

“Canada’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement depend on co-operation across all provinces, and Saskatchewan’s plans to extend coal-fired power generation weaken that shared responsibility,” said Peter Prebble, SES board member. “Despite producing only 4% of Canada’s electricity, Saskatchewan accounts for 24% of all greenhouse gas pollution caused by power generation in Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed climate change is real and poses a grave threat to humanity’s future. That reality means the Saskatchewan government has a responsibility to rapidly phase out conventional coal-fired power stations, and by doing so help reduce the transboundary greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate breakdown in many parts of the world.” 

As the Court of King’s Bench itself acknowledged in its January 12, 2026 ruling in this case, the issue is not whether climate change is real, but how governments choose to address it. Saskatchewan deserves an energy future rooted in science, responsibility, and care for the people who live here. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society will continue to advocate for evidence-based decisions in Saskatchewan’s electricity sector.

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