If you are in a building with the lights on, you have a stake in the bitter fight between the Federal and Provincial Governments over the future of these everyday wonders. Unfortunately, the rhetoric is thick and the technical details make it hard to cut through the crap.
Just last week, the provincial auditor revealed that SaskPower will miss federal emission reduction requirements without significant changes to their current plans. The government also introduced The SaskEnergy (Carbon Tax Fairness for Families) Amendment Act extended carbon tax exemptions on home heating.
SaskPower’s ongoing failure to meet its legal requirements is a symptom of the destructive political tug-of-war we are stuck in. We hear a lot about renewable energy leaving us to freeze in the dark, but the truth is most of us will not notice the switch. Did you feel the difference in your electricity when Saskatchewan’s largest wind farm came online in November? Of course not.
Our crown corporation is very good at keeping the grid working and they have the expertise to plan for future changes. What we sacrifice in this fight is a chance to capitalize on our abundant wind, solar, and geothermal resources. They could generate clean energy and create green jobs across southern Saskatchewan. Yet, our province has failed to seize these opportunities.
Last week, Ottawa announced $265 million in renewable energy investments for Saskatchewan. These funds will support training, home retrofits, grid improvements, and power generating capacity, with an emphasis on Indigenous-led renewable projects. All in all, this investment will add 20,000 homes worth of energy to the grid. These investments honor the innovation of Saskatchewan’s First Nations and Métis communities and represent a step toward economic reconciliation.
Imagine if Saskatchewan’s government matched federal investments in innovative industries that grow our economy and secure our future instead of choosing expensive and futile legal fights with the Feds. In the past, these levels of government collaborated on major projects regardless of ideological differences. Now, such cooperation is unthinkable. Instead, Premier Moe’s anti-Ottawa rhetoric undermines progress. When governments fight, everyday people lose—through missed funding opportunities and an unstable regulatory environment that deters investment and jobs.
Federal investments are vital, but without provincial leadership, Saskatchewan will lag behind. Embracing renewable energy means creating jobs, fostering economic growth, and building a future-ready economy. Let’s not leave this potential untapped.