Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal has reserved its decision after hearing arguments over whether a legal challenge involving the province’s plans for coal-fired electricity should proceed to a full hearing. The matter stems from a June 2025 announcement by the provincial government to extend the operation of conventional coal-fired power plants beyond the federal phase-out deadline of Dec. 31, 2029. The following month, three individuals, along with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and Citizens for Public Justice, applied for a judicial review of the decision. The application was struck down by the Court of King’s Bench in January 2026 after the court found the underlying issues were not appropriate for judicial review. The applicants are now appealing that ruling in hopes of having the case proceed to a full hearing. “This whole decision puts us on a path that defies federal law. It will breach our own provincial law. And for these reasons, we think that it is unreasonable, and it warrants a second look,” said Glenn Wright, lead counsel representing the applicants. Wright said the case could have significant implications for Saskatchewan and its energy sector. “All people of Saskatchewan should take an interest in this. This is the most important decision that’s been made on energy this century, and it will have huge implications on the reliability and the affordability of our power,” Wright said. The hearing drew a large turnout, with a second viewing room opened to accommodate overflow spectators. Peter Prebble, a director with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, argued the province’s plan would conflict with federal greenhouse gas regulations if conventional coal-fired generation continues beyond the federal deadline. “The rule of law in Canada is about to be violated in a flagrant way by the government of Saskatchewan. It hasn’t been violated yet, but it’s going to be violated. And the provincial government has been very clear about that,” Prebble said. The provincial government disputes that position. In a statement to CTV News, the province said it “will continue to argue that extension of SaskPower’s coal-fired power stations is a core policy decision of elected government that is not amenable to judicial review.” Members of the United Mine Workers of North America (UMWNA), which represents workers in the Estevan-area coal industry, were also in attendance. “It definitely weighs on some of my fellow coworkers’ minds. Their families, their spouses, what the future is, what does that all look like?” said Ashley Johnson, financial secretary for the union’s Estevan local. Johnson said the coal industry plays a significant role in Estevan and surrounding communities, leaving workers closely watching decisions about its future. “We’re involved and we’re paying attention to this. So, we can relay messages back to our coworkers and just be in the game,” he said. Johnson added that while alternative energy sources such as solar and wind are becoming more common, he believes coal-fired generation continues to have a role in providing reliable power. “At the end of the day, everybody likes to go home after work and make themselves a meal. So we got to have some reliable baseload power. And until the wind and solar becomes a reliable baseload power, we’ve got to have something to cover that gap,” Johnson said. Jody Dukart, an international representative with UMWNA, said changing and sometimes inaccurate information about the industry’s future has contributed to uncertainty among workers. “There’s this misinformation that is creating anxiety for people because they think the industry is going to get shut down,” Dukart said. Arguments concluded Tuesday, with the three-judge panel reserving its decision to a later date.
