Saskatchewan ‘favourable’ to further supporting Alberta on Bill C-69

Saskatchewan’s natural resources minister is calling the Alberta Court of Appeal’s decision this week positive and hopeful.

The decision found the Impact Assessment Act, previously known as Bill C-69, to be unconstitutional and overreach into provincial jurisdiction.

The law gives the federal government the ability to evaluate and approve, or not approve, major projects in the country, including pipelines.

Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan’s minister of energy and natural resources, pointed out that even the single dissenting justice agreed the act is a violation of jurisdiction.

“It’s a hopeful sign and … a very strong decision,” said Eyre. “The division of powers matters, as the decision held, and we absolutely agree with that.”

Saskatchewan was an intervenor on the side of Alberta in the case, and Eyre said that could happen again if the federal government appeals the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada – which is likely.

“Certainly I think we would be leaning that way and be favourable to that possibility that we would certainly support our friends in Alberta if they carry this forward,” said Eyre.

Eyre said the provincial government is hopeful this decision will be upheld at the country’s top court, though she also noted it’s impossible to predict the future. Eyre believes the strength of the 4-1 decision in Alberta works in Saskatchewan’s favour.

Eyre said she has been talking about the issues with the law since 2018.

“These things actually do have a cumulative effect on investor certainty, on job creation and really on broader energy security for us here in Canada,” said Eyre.