Update: We’re appealing!
At our last hearing, the government asked to have our case thrown out. In January, we learned that the Court of Kingโs Bench granted their requestโbut weโre not giving up. Canadians deserve answers and accountability for this decision that damages our shared home and violates the democratic process.
Thatโs why CPJ and our co-applicants are appealing the Courtโs ruling and are continuing the fight for climate justice by saying: No More Coal in Canada!
This is a critical moment when we need your support. Here are two ways we can work together for climate justice in Canada:
Donate to the No More Coal in Canada Legal Fund
We need your support to drive Canadaโs climate justice conversation.
Watch our February 17th webinar, Climate Justice in Court: civil society and climate advocates driving change through the legal system
Discover how lawsuits can shape our climate future. Featuring our Saskatchewan lawyer Glenn Wright, and CPJ co-founder and Member of the Order of Canada John Olthuis.
Citizens for Public Justice and several co-applicants, including the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, are challenging the Saskatchewan government in court.
In June 2025, the province announced that it would continue coal power generation all the way to 2050, even though it had previously promised to end it by 2030.
CPJ and co-applicants are saying no more coal power in Canada! We must:
- defend democratic due process: the decision lacked public consultation.
- adhere to Canadian and international law: we have obligations under the Paris Agreement and the federal Clean Electricity Regulations.
- uphold Canadiansโ Charter rights: we have a right to security of the person, including future generations and youth.
- preserve the integrity of Earthโs climate: Canada has a historical responsibility to stop the ongoing climate crisis.
What weโre doing
CPJ, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and three individual applicants from Saskatchewan and Manitoba (including a youth), represented by Saskatchewan environmental lawyer Glenn Wright, have filed an application for judicial review. A judicial review is how the courts act as a check on public decision-makers.
We want the court to cancel the Saskatchewan governmentโs decision to extend the service life of its coal power generation plants past 2030.
To do so, CPJ is actively seeking public standing in order to represent the Canadian publicโs interest in the case. In our application to review the reasonableness of the Saskatchewan governmentโs decision, we want to demonstrate the wider negative consequences of coal electricity generation on Canadians and the climate system.
What our goal is
Our goal is to stop Saskatchewanโs coal power plants from being refurbished and kept in service. If successful, our application for judicial review and an interim stay of the decision would enable the court to stop the government from carrying out its plan to extend coal power generation and violating federal law.
We want a country where our environment, public health, Charter rights, and obligations under international law are all respected.
Why weโre doing it
Canadaโs standing as one of the highest per capita emitters in the world makes this case a crucial aspect of carrying out a just transition, where human rights are upheld while the world transitions to sustainable energy sources.
In addition, renewable energy sources are increasingly more affordable than fossil fuels. Continued investment in coal risks saddling taxpayers with stranded assets as the world transitions to clean energy.
This case also has significant implications for the rule of law. Part of the Saskatchewan governmentโs decision to extend the life of its coal plants is that it โdoes not recognize the legitimacy of the federal Clean Electricity Regulations.โ Defending hard-won federal environmental policies is fundamental to preserving the integrity of our democratic processes.
