The Government of Saskatchewan has confirmed its controversial and dangerous plan to extend the operation of coal-fired power plants beyond the federal 2030 phase-out deadline. This is a move that environmental experts, medical professionals, and community advocates are calling reckless, short-sighted, and harmful to both people and the planet.
At a time when Saskatchewan could be leading the country in clean, affordable energy – thanks to the highest solar potential in Canada and vast untapped wind resources – our province is instead doubling down on one of the dirtiest, most polluting energy sources of the past century.
Meanwhile, the consequences of climate inaction are unfolding in real time. Wildfires have already burned more than 10 times the average land area in Saskatchewan this year, forcing over 10,000 people to evacuate their homes. These fires are not just acts of nature—they are fueled by human decisions, including continued reliance on fossil fuels like coal.
“This decision is a serious threat to public health,” says Dr. Murray Opdahl of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Saskatchewan. “Between now and 2031, air pollution in Saskatchewan will cause 3 million illness days, over 12,000 emergency room visits, and between 600 and 2,400 premature deaths.”
Coal power is Saskatchewan’s largest industrial source of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide—pollutants known to exacerbate asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and other serious health conditions. The impacts are especially severe for children, elders, and those with pre-existing conditions. And this pollution doesn’t stop at provincial borders; it travels, making this not just a provincial issue but a national crisis and a human rights concern.
TAKE ACTION: Join the Movement to Stop Coal Power
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CAPE Saskatchewan. (2025, Jun 24). CAPE Saskatchewan condemns province’s decision to extend coal plants; warns of severe health consequences. https://cape.ca/press_release/cape-saskatchewan-condemns-provinces-decision-to-extend-coal-plants-warns-of-severe-health-consequences/