Saskatchewan applies for intervener status in Alberta’s Bill C-69 court case

Saskatchewan has joined Alberta in it’s battle against bill C-69. On Tuesday, the Alberta government asked that province’s Appeal Court to rule on whether the federal government’s new way of doing environmental assessments for major projects, particularly in the energy sector, is constitutional.

On Wednesday, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Don Morgan said Saskatchewan has applied for intervener status with Alberta.

Morgan says Bill C-69 imposes major changes to the environmental assessment regime across the nation and when you look at how that’s applied to industries in our province, especially the energy sector, there is a need to see if the changes go too far.

“We’re going to look carefully and see what’s in the pleadings prepared by the province of Alberta, so we make our pleadings unique and reflect the Saskatchewan situation so we’re able to protect and promote Saskatchewan business and Saskatchewan industry,” said Morgan.

Morgan said they will also look carefully at the division of powers between the federal government and the province to protect the position the province needs to take to regulate the oil, gas and energy interests in the province.

“It’s important and absolutely imperative for us, that we stick up for where the rights of the province are in the ability to regulate business, to regulate industry in our province. We’ve got a strong and vibrant oil and energy sector and we have to do everything we can to make sure that sector continues to be vibrant and strong and continues to grow,” Morgan said.