Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
In Part 4, the affidavits of the Manitoba activist farmer, who neither lives in Saskatchewan nor is a SaskPower customer, and the Saskatoon environmental podcaster who’s taking a political science degree are examined. These are two of the three individuals who are taking legal action to stop Saskatchewan from rebuilding its coal-fired generation fleet, as laid out in Part 1, here.
The 55-year-old podcaster and poli sci student from Saskatoon
The second party named in the action is Sherry Olson, who said, “I am 55 years old and currently reside on Treaty 6 Territory in the traditional Homeland of the Metis, in the City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
(All the affidavits include land acknowledgement statements.)
Olsen co-hosts From The Ground Up, an environmental podcast and radio show airing on CFCR 90.5 FM in Saskatoon. The podcast is a joint effort of Climate Justice Saskatoon.
You can listen to Olson’s July 16 podcast about the Coal Decision here:
Olson continued, “I have post-secondary education in fields of Business and Administration, and University and College Administration. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science.”
Olson said she and her husband have seven children and 12 grandchildren.
She wrote, “I have twelve living grandchildren. If those grandchildren will live an average Canadian lifespan, I expect they will still be alive in the year 2100. I think about their future often.
“I am making this affidavit because I am deeply concerned that the Respondent is not adequately addressing the urgent and escalating threat of anthropogenic climate change. Investing in refurbishment of coal power plants will significantly contribute to dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Failure to address this issue is having a direct and detrimental effect on my life, the lives of my children and grandchildren, and on the natural world I hold dear.
“I have read numerous scientific reports that speak of crossing tipping points, such as ocean acidification, or the collapse of critical forest ecosystems. I believe we must act faster to mitigate the causes of dangerous climate change.
“Rather than reducing the threat of anthropogenic climate change, the Government of Saskatchewan is actively accelerating dangerous climate change by choosing to run coal-fired power plants long into the future. Affixed to this affidavit as Exhibit “A” is a copy of a letter from Jeremy Harrison, the Minister Responsible for SaskPower, dated June 18, 2025. The letter outlines the recent decision of the Government of Saskatchewan to refurbish and recertify all coal-fired power plants in our province and to potentially run these plants to 2050.
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“I know that coal-fired power creates dangerous pollution that harms people and ecosystems, both in the present and future. It deeply troubles me that our Premier has publicly stated that he “doesn’t care” about Saskatchewan’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions. The Premier’s sentiment is clear in the Saskatchewan decision to extend all coal-fired generation to 2050. I am shocked that the Government of Saskatchewan is now refusing to follow national regulations that fall under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act which call for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from coal and requires clean energy.
“As a Saskatoon resident in a condominium, I cannot simply disconnect from the grid. Even if I could, systemic change is required to replace fossil energy to create a reasonable chance of mitigating and/or delaying 1.5°C or more of warming due to dangerous anthropogenic climate change.
“I have read that in 2021, Saskatchewan produced only 4% of Canada’s electricity but was responsible for 28% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. I also understand that, globally, we have just three years left in our carbon budget if we are to have any hope of staying within 1.5°C of warming.
“I remember climate change being discussed as early as my childhood, but it was not until I saw the movie An Inconvenient Truth as a young adult that I came to understand the gravity of the situation. I joined environmental organizations, established two community gardens, and began recycling and composting whenever possible. I have also led eco-fairs, educational events and podcasts, protests, and green groups all with the objective to help accelerate the transition away from fossil fuel energy. I have actively mitigated emissions and adapted as best as I can while trying to influence others around me to do the same.
“I have volunteered with the Red Cross and assisted at evacuation shelters. I view many of the people displaced by wildfires here in Saskatchewan to be climate refugees. Higher temperatures increase dryness of forests, and with every degree of warming, wildfire risk multiplies.
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“I own a hybrid vehicle and drive, when necessary, but over the decades I have regularly walked, biked, or taken the bus to reduce emissions. In 2023, wildfire smoke made this increasingly difficult. I often had to switch from active transportation because the air was too unhealthy for walking or biking. I observe that smoky air conditions are occurring more frequently every year. Many days, the smoke is so dense I cannot safely spend significant time outside.
“I have hypertension and have taken medication for several years. I have attended a public event with a presentation from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Saskatoon Chapter in June of 2025. It was explained that those with a condition such as mine are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes, especially within 3 days of smoke events, which are increasingly common. Exposure can also have long lasting impacts.
“In 2024, fires in Jasper, Alberta directly affected my nephew and niece when their community burned in July and August that year.”
“I attended a portion of the SaskPower engagement sessions between September 2023 and January 2024. Affixed to this affidavit as Exhibit 118” is the full report of the stage 3 consultation report from SaskPower which outlines the results of the public consultation that took place between September 2023 and January 2024. The report from the consultations shared that net-zero greenhouse gas emissions were important to people. This recent coal power plant refurbishment decision is inconsistent with the SaskPower consultations as the final report stated that coal must be phased out. Never during my participation in the SaskPower consultations was it suggested that our province would defy federal legislation or run the coal-fired plants to 2050.”
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In this photo from the National Farmers Union 2023/2024 board of directors, Matthew Wiens is seen on the right, highlighted in green. NFU
The Manitoba Activist Farmer
The third individual named as a party in the originating application isn’t even from Saskatchewan, but rather has spent nearly his whole life in Manitoba. In turn, that would mean he is not a SaskPower customer, and yet he is seeking standing in this case against the government of Saskatchewan and impacting SaskPower, its Crown utility.
And while he takes issue with coal-fired generation in Saskatchewan which “creates significant pollution impacts on Manitoba and around the globe,” he does not reference taking action against other jurisdictions, like China or neighbouring North Dakota, both of which operate significantly more coal-fired power than Saskatchewan.
Matthew Weins, the third party, noted spearheading adoptions of a “Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
(Non-proliferation is typically a term used when referring to weapons of mass destruction, like nuclear arms.)
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Matthew Wiens said, “I am 50 years old and currently reside on Treaty 1 Territory in the traditional Homeland of the Matis, in the rural municipality of Brokenhead, near the town of Beausejour, Manitoba.”
He noted he has a masters degree in agriculture from the University of Manitoba, operates a mixed farm producing vegetables and livestock. He also does some independent agricultural consulting throughout Manitoba.
Wiens wrote, “I am a member of the National Farmers’ Union of Canada (NFU), and I occasionally contribute to the NFU’s important policy work to advocate for food security, food sovereignty, and to support family farming operations throughout the country.”
“I live with my wife and four kids on our farm. Generally, my immediate family are all involved in our farming operation to some extent.
“I anticipate that my children will live to see the year 2080 or beyond. I find myself thinking about the future they will face often, particularly because I see the impacts of dangerous climate change becoming more serious as time goes on.
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“I have been aware of climate change since I attended high school, approximately 35 years ago. However, I became more aware of the seriousness of the issue about 20 years ago. I have become so concerned about dangerous climate change that I have made personal choices to mitigate my impact, and I have helped to advocate for a more sustainable future. For example, at the NFU national convention in Ottawa in 2023, I spearheaded a resolution for the NFU to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and lobby the Canadian government urging Canada to also endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“I am troubled that the Government of Saskatchewan has made the decision to extend the use of coal-fired generation to 2050. I view this decision to be short sighted and blind to the impacts from the pollution caused by burning coal. Coal fired generation in Saskatchewan creates significant pollution impacts on Manitoba and around the globe. Saskatchewan’s decision to extend coal fired generation to 2050 will exacerbate dangerous climate change and the impacts I am already witnessing today.
“I observe wildfires that are growing in intensity, area burned, and frequency. I have read numerous news reports and scientific papers that connect growing wildfires to anthropogenic climate change. It is now common knowledge that the predominant cause of dangerous climate change is human activity burning fossil fuels. This is why I helped champion the Fossil-Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty within the NFU.
“The growing forest fires affect every aspect of my life. In my occupation as a farmer and agriculture consultant, I am regularly working outdoors. Forest fires have caused numerous air quality warnings and pose serious health risks to me as my occupation requires me to be outdoors.
“Similarly, pollution from coal is a known health hazard that releases harmful pollutants, including carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, mercury, lead, uranium, thorium and other toxic heavy metals. Health impacts of air pollution in Canada have been well studied, and it is obvious that pollution from coal-fired power plants in Saskatchewan will cross borders and cause impacts in neighbouring provinces, such as Manitoba where I live and work.
“I understand that at one time Manitoba used to burn lignite coal from Saskatchewan at the Brandon generating station. The Brandon coal generating station was transitioned to emergency use only in 2009 and then shutdown in 2018.
“One of the reasons Manitoba Hydro stopped burning coal in 2018 was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am aware that many jurisdictions in Canada, and around the world, have been transitioning off coal for more than a decade now.
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“I cannot accept the decision of the Saskatchewan government, as outlined in its letter to SaskPower employees dated June 18, 2025, as being reasonable or necessary.
“I know that addressing climate change requires collective national and international action. I am motivated to participate in this application because the actions taken in Saskatchewan to extend coal fired generation will produce harmful pollution that will not be confined to Saskatchewan’s borders.
“I know that we need to act collectively and to view the world differently if we are to truly have a sustainable society. I believe that we must recognize that we are all part of an ecosystem based on mutual dependence that supports life in common. If we continue to focus on extraction and only the local economy, we will continue to move in the wrong direction. I view the coal decision of Saskatchewan as an example of such short-sighted direction. It is obvious to me that we will not reconcile our relationship with nature or each other if we continue to exploit a dirty resource like coal. Any perceived benefits from extending coal are not justified when compared to the tremendous cost to our health, our environment, and the dangerous climate impacts.”
In Part 5, the two environmental organizations’ affidavits that are party to this injunction application to stop coal-fired power generation from continuing are outlined, and the conclusion outlines what’s happening next.
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