SaskatchewanA judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the Saskatchewan government over its environmental policies and use of gas-fired power plants, ruling the claims are not within the court’s authority.Judge rules applicants’ claims are not within court’s authority Katie Swyers · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 8:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours agoA Court of King’s Bench judge has struck down a lawsuit brought against the provincial government and SaskPower over alleged climate inaction. Applicants and supporters of the claim are shown in a file photo from October 2024. (Shlok Talati/CBC)A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the Saskatchewan government over its environmental policies and use of gas-fired power plants.The claim was filed in 2023 by Climate Justice Saskatoon and seven residents aged 15 to 80. It named the province, SaskPower and the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan as the respondents.The applicants alleged their charter rights had been violated by the province’s actions, which they said exacerbated “the harm and intensity of climate change,” and asked the court to enact new laws and impose policies combating climate change in the province.Last October, Regina Court of King’s Bench Justice Holli Kuski Bassett heard the provincial government’s application to strike the claim. The judge issued her written ruling last week, declaring the claim “is struck in its entirety” because it is not within the court’s authority, as it’s the provincial legislature that governs laws and policies. She wrote the group was “in essence” asking for “court-directed legislative reform.” Climate Justice Saskatoon and the individuals involved with the lawsuit say they’re “disappointed” and are considering appealing.“I don’t think it’s the end of our case, because it’s certainly not the end of our concern,” said Amy Snider, one of the seven individual applicants. Amy Snider, shown in a file photo from October 2024, says there will be further legal challenges around the province’s power generation choices and climate issues. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)“Our fears for our future, our children’s future and grandchildren’s future remain intact. This decision from the judge does not take away the problem,” she said. The court’s decision did not consider the merits of the lawsuit, only if the court should hear the case. In her decision, Kuski Bassett highlighted the importance of protecting the environment. “This decision is not to be interpreted as suggesting the respondents are immune from constitutional scrutiny in appropriate circumstances regarding their climate change response,” the judge wrote.Snider said there will be further legal challenges. She pointed to a second, ongoing court case against the province, with a completely different set of applicants, asking the courts to intervene with the province’s decision to keep using coal power plants. The Saskatchewan Environmental Society, one of the groups involved with the coal lawsuit, also expressed disappointment the court would not hear the case. “This case raises urgent and fundamental questions about climate change and human rights. We believe it should have been heard in full,” wrote the group’s president Margret Asmuss in a statement. The province said in a statement that it welcomed the judge’s decision and that the province and SaskPower “are committed to an all-of-the-above approach on power generation,” which can provide “energy security” while prioritizing “reliability and affordability.” According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatchewan was among the five highest emitters of greenhouse gases in 2023, along with Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and B.C.Together, those provinces were responsible for 92 per cent of Canada’s national greenhouse gas emissions. ABOUT THE AUTHORKatie Swyers is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan, based in Regina. She is a 2021 Joan Donaldson Scholar and has previously worked for CBC Podcasts, CBC’s Marketplace, CBC’s network investigative unit, CBC Toronto, CBC Manitoba and as a chase producer for Canada Tonight on CBC News Network. You can reach her at katie.swyers@cbc.ca.
Environmental groups ‘disappointed’ by dismissal of Sask. climate inaction lawsuit
