REGINA – Opposition New Democrats have stepped up attacks on the government’s plan to extend coal power generation, as they turned their focus this week to the health impacts.
At a media availability at the Legislature, NDP Rural and Remote Health critic Jared Clarke pointed to a joint letter signed by 14 leaders from several health organizations from across Canada.
“The letter is signed by representatives of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Saskatchewan Public Health Association, the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment, Asthma Canada, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Public Health Association, and several other leading health organizations,” said Clarke.
He said that all of them called on Premier Scott Moe and the Sask Party to “abandon its costly and reckless $26 billion coal catastrophe.”
Up to now, NDP attacks of the government's plan to extend coal to 2050 had focused on costs, with the Opposition frequently pointed to a $26 billion cost figure that has been much disputed by the government in recent weeks. They had also attacked the government over a lack of transparency on the issue. Now, the NDP is turning its focus towards negative health impacts as a reason to move away from coal.
The correspondence from the health organizations, dated June 3, was sent to all MLAs. It called on the government to reverse the coal extension, invest in renewables including wind, solar and battery storage, strengthen air quality standards, and include health impact assessments of energy decisions such as hospital visits, lost workdays and shortened lives,
The letter had pointed to up to 34,000 premature deaths in Canada related to fossil fuel air pollution, and pointed to Saskatchewan's heavy reliance on coal and natural gas.
The joint letter also promoted the use of wind and solar, pointing to recent wind and solar contracts coming in at a price of $64-90 per MWh compared to the current SaskPower retail rate of $150 per MWh.
Clarke pointed out one particular line of the correspondence, which stated that “while Alberta and Ontario have successfully phased out coal, improving air quality and public health, Saskatchewan is moving backward, investing in refurbishing coal plants to operate until 2050.” Clarke also noted the letter stated that “SaskPower had previously invested in planning for the coal phase-out and was prepared to transition to renewable energy.“
“This letter makes clear what we already know,” said Clarke. “It is time to phase out coal. The cost is too high on multiple fronts. Scott Moe will double power rates with a plan his own officials call extremely risky. Now, health experts are warning of grave consequences as well. What will it take for the Sask Party government to listen to the people of this province and to put a stop to their more costly and reckless plan once and for all?”
Sask Today has reached out to the province for a response.
