What could become a precedent setting climate change lawsuit in Canada is going through the court system in Saskatchewan right now. It has been a year-and-a-half since Climate Justice Saskatoon and seven Saskatchewan residents filed an application at the Court of King’s Bench claiming that the provincial government’s action to expand gas-fired electricity generation violates their Charter of rights to life, security of person and equality. The application names SaskPower, the Crown Investments Corporation and the Government of Saskatchewan and states that SaskPower needs to move to a low emission electricity grid by 2035.

Coming up tomorrow (Fri), the case is back in court in Regina for a special hearing. The province is arguing to have the application be dismissed and the climate justice group is arguing for the case to continue. A news release from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society says they asked to intervene in this hearing, but were denied, but are hopeful the application to strike will not be successful and that the Society will ultimately be granted permission to intervene in the main case.