Why Is The Saskatchewan Government Against Coal-Burning Phase Out?

First Posted: Nov 23, 2016 04:20 AM EST
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For Canada, coal-fired power generation would be a thing of the past by 2030. A new regulation was set to augment the efforts laid down by Canada’s Conservative Government 2012. Saskatchewan government fumed over this move by the current administration.

On Nov. 21 (Monday), Minister of Environment and Climate Change Hon. Catherine McKenna announced that the transition from coal burning to clean energy usage in order to meet the 2030 deadline, according to Columbia Daily Tribune.

Canada signals the world that it is a great place to invest in clean energy sources by taking fossil fuels out of the picture. Benefits from this regulation include reduction of greenhouse emissions as well as health improvement for all Canadians.

The government is completely supporting the eradication of coal-fired power generation by providing financial support for commercially viable clean energy and modern electricity systems. They also assured workers job security in the process of transition.

Not everyone sees this as a step in the right direction. Environment Minister Scott Moe and Premier Brad Wall stir controversy with the implementation of this regulation, National Observer reported. According to them, the deadline only shows that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is uncommitted in collaborating with the provinces.

Trudeau also announced his plans for a national carbon tax of $10 per ton beginning 2018, followed by increased to $50 by 2022, according to Mining.com. The Premier claimed that this would hurt Saskatchewan economy, but the Prime Minister countered that the revenue to be generated would flow back to all provinces.

As of this writing, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick represent 10 percent of Canada’s total carbon emissions. A deal was made with Nova Scotia to provide a more flexible plan in shifting from coal-fired power generation to cleaner sources of energy, while a similar deal with Saskatchewan is under way. Successful transition from fossil fuels to clean energy would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by more than 5 tons in 2030.

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