The Saskatchewan government has officially rejected the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) published by the federal government.
The original Clean Electricity Regulations were published in Canada Gazette, Part I on August 19, 2023. after concerns were raised by provinces, businesses, and industry leaders, the federal government decided to tweak the regulations in an update paper published on February 16, 2024.
After establishing an independent Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal to examine the policy and its effects on the province, they are now officially rejecting the proposal.
"Our government unequivocally rejects federal intrusion into our exclusive provincial jurisdiction over the electricity system," Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Saskatchewan will prioritize maintaining an affordable and reliable electricity grid to support our regional needs and growth. The federal Clean Electricity Regulations are unconstitutional, unaffordable, unachievable, and Saskatchewan cannot, and will not, comply with them."
Harrison also discusses the impacts that the tribunal found having such a policy would cost Saskatchewan.
"The Tribunal released its report showing the CER would lower Saskatchewan's economic growth by at least $7.1 billion, cost the province 4,200 jobs, and have a $8.1 billion negative effect on Saskatchewan's export sector," Harrison said. "The Clean Electricity Regulations will cause substantial harm to the provincial economy, slow growth throughout all major sectors, reduce jobs, hike electricity rates and jeopardize grid reliability."
A similar message was seen from the federally commissioned Canada Electricity Advisory Council which published a report in May 2024 that called for more flexible regulations for fossil-fuel-dependent provinces like Saskatchewan and Alberta, which face greater challenges due to a lack of current hydroelectric or nuclear power generation.
"The Constitution of Canada is clear: provinces manage electricity systems," Harrison said. "Our government will not risk the affordability and reliability of Saskatchewan's power grid because of the extreme policies of the Liberal government."