Saskatchewan climate group files appeal in coal power legal challenge

SaskPower's Poplar River Power Plant, located near the town of Coronach, Sask. (David Prisciak/CTV News)

A group of citizens and environmental advocates in Saskatchewan have filed a request for appeal in their legal challenge against the provincial government’s decision to extend the life of its coal-fired power plants.

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) and its co-applicants filed their notice of appeal on Feb. 5. The appeal follows a decision from the Court of King’s Bench to strike the case down on procedural grounds.

• Coal power legal challenge dismissed by Saskatchewan court

According to the group, the court did not review evidence or decide whether the province’s decision on June 28, 2025, to extend coal-fired power generation was “lawful, justified, or in the public interest.”

The group went on to say the court ruled the decision was a matter of government policy and therefore not subject to judicial review.

“The Court of King’s Bench dismissed the case without allowing the full legal arguments to be heard,” Margret Asmuss, SES president said in a news release. “We are asking the Court of Appeal to allow the case to proceed to a full hearing.”

The Saskatchewan government announced in June 2025 it would extend the lifetimes of coal plants as a ‘bridge’ to nuclear baseload power generation. Under the extension, they could remain in operation until as late as 2050, despite a federal shutdown mandate on coal in 2030.

The province plans to reach its goal of operating a net-zero power grid by 2050.

In the months following the province’s decision, the SES and Citizens for Justice launched its legal challenge over the plan.

Renewing their previous comments, the groups said the court’s ruling does not change the scientific facts about the pollution caused by coal and the “urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the country.”

“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,” SES noted.

“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.”

SaskPower currently operates three coal power plants in the Boundary Dam and Shand Power Stations near Estevan and the Poplar River Power Station near Coronach.

According to data from SaskPower, coal power accounts for 23 per cent or 1,528 megawatts of Saskatchewan’s net power generation capacity. Natural gas provides the most capacity at 2,486 megawatts through 11 plants across the province, while hydroelectric comes in third with a 863 megawatts in generating potential.

With files from CTV News’ Cole Davenport