Engagement

A key commitment within the Prairie Resilience strategy is to "maintain and enhance partnerships with First Nations and Métis to address and adapt to a changing climate through actions that are guided by traditional ecological knowledge." The Ministry of Environment has engaged, and will continue to engage, with First Nations and Métis communities throughout the province to hear and understand Indigenous interests, values and the climate change impacts facing their communities.

Starting in February 2018, provincial officials engaged with industry, non-governmental organizations, academics and others to seek input on the development of specific regulatory approaches committed to in Prairie Resilience. It was at this time that provincial officials initiated engagement with First Nations and Métis through the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S).

This engagement with the FSIN and MN-S led the ministry to hold focused discussions with the FSIN, provincial tribal councils and Indigenous economic development agencies in the spring and summer of 2018. This engagement was to better understand Indigenous perspectives on climate change, introduce the main features of the provincial climate change strategy and talk about potential opportunities. The outcomes of these sessions were informative and successful and have led to further meetings and more detailed conversations with land managers and tribal councils.

In fall 2018, the ministry partnered with MN-S to engage with Métis communities throughout the province. This partnership was initiated by MN-S through its Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program. MN-S and the ministry worked together to better understand the concerns of 19 Métis communities representing all of the Métis regions in the province. Meetings were held with hundreds of Métis residents across the province. The engagement sought to understand how climate change is affecting Métis communities and how they saw these changes occurring on the land over time. The meetings were a successful starting point for building and enhancing government-MN-S relationships, understanding climate change concerns of Métis communities and discussing opportunities.

Read the summary report produced by the Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Report on Provincial Engagement Sessions, January 31, 2019.

In February 2019, the ministry began community-level engagement with leadership, knowledge keepers, women and youth with the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council. Again, the purpose of the dialogue was to understand how climate change is affecting community members and to explore the opportunities the provincial strategy presents for the First Nations of File Hills Qu'Appelle.

The Government of Saskatchewan values the participation of Indigenous peoples in these climate change conversations. First Nation and Métis are keepers of deep traditional knowledge; coming together is critical in helping people communities in Saskatchewan prepare and adapt to climate change.

In February 2018, officials initiated engagement with industry, non-governmental organizations, academics, First Nation and Métis, among others, to gather insight and seek feedback on the contents of Prairie Resilience. The purpose of the engagement was to gain a comprehensive understanding of participants views and perspective on commitments within the strategy, and particularly the regulatory framework proposed for emissions management in Saskatchewan and the Climate Resilience Measurement Framework.

The engagement sessions throughout 2018 and 2019 have included a series of open, plenary sessions and closed, bilateral meetings, online session and the opportunity to provide written submissions on multiple occasions.

A report summarizing what was heard during the February–March 2018 engagement was released to all participants in May 2018. Read the MNP Report on What We Heard, Prairie Resilience: A Made-In-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy – Consultation Summary, April 23, 2018. Government also produced additional discussion papers and engagement summary reports specific to each of the compliance options.

OBPS Engagement

In August 2021, the federal government introduced a new 2023-2030 federal carbon pricing benchmark.

The Ministry of Environment is reviewing Saskatchewan's Output Based Performance Standards (OBPS) program legislated under The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations (the Regulations) to ensure the program meets new federal benchmark requirements.

Ensuring provincial autonomy over the provincial OBPS program and bringing the federally imposed carbon tax under provincial control will allow the ministry to minimize regulatory burden, recognize sector-specific capacity for emissions intensity reductions, maintain industry competitiveness and support continued economic growth.

The ministry will be engaging with industry and the federal government on the federal benchmark and potential changes to the provincial OBPS program.

Read the discussion paper

For further information on this initiative, please email prairie.resilience@gov.sk.ca using the subject line OBPS 2023.

Webinar: Federal Benchmark

In August 2021, the federal government introduced a new 2023-2030 federal carbon pricing benchmark.

The Ministry of Environment recognizes that the new benchmark has introduced uncertainty for regulated emitters. In extending the compliance return and compliance obligation deadlines – announced on September 22, 2021, and outlined under Program Deadlines – the ministry will have additional time to engage with industry and the federal government on the new benchmark so that companies have clear expectations and can make informed decisions about how to fulfill their compliance obligations in a predictable regulatory environment.

As part of this effort, the Ministry of Environment hosted a webinar on September 29, 2021, to provide an overview of the new federal benchmark, to assess its implications for Saskatchewan, and to outline the steps that are being undertaken by the ministry to respond to the new benchmark.

View the webinar presentation

Should you require any additional information, please contact the Climate Change Branch via prairie.resilience@gov.sk.ca.

Technology Fund

• Read the Technology Fund Discussion Paper
• Read the Technology Fund Discussion – Engagement Summary Report

Offset Program

• Read the Saskatchewan Offset Program Discussion Paper
• Read the Offset Program Discussion Paper – Engagement Summary Report

Performance Credit Program

• Read the Saskatchewan Best Performance Credit Program Discussion Paper.
• Read the Best Performance Credit Program Discussion Paper – Engagement Summary Report

The Government of Saskatchewan is moving forward in 2021 with additional engagement on three key initiatives related to the Prairie Resilience strategy and Saskatchewan's Growth Plan:

• Emission management for electricity generation
• Development of Saskatchewan offset program
• A strategic plan to explore the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs)

Emission management for electricity generation

As part of the regulatory framework for emissions management, the Government of Saskatchewan is developing new regulations to manage greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. The Ministry of Environment has prepared draft Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Electricity Standards and Compliance) Regulations. This document lays out the provisions of the new regulations and explains the regulatory approach. Starting in March 2021, the ministry will begin engaging with regulated and affected parties to provide information, answer questions and receive feedback.

For further information on this initiative or engagement opportunity, please email prairie.resilience@gov.sk.ca using the subject line Electricity Regulations.

GHG offsets program

Saskatchewan is developing a provincial greenhouse gas (GHG) offset program to fulfil a commitment made in Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy. Offset credits will serve as a compliance option for regulated emitters subject to The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases (Standards and Compliance) Regulations. Having an offset program also creates incentives for farmers, foresters, ranchers, municipalities and other businesses to sequester carbon and sell GHG offset credits.

The Ministry of Environment is leading engagement on GHG offsets with Saskatchewan stakeholders throughout the year. In March 2021, the ministry will host webinars to provide information on a proposed approach for the program and a protocol development process, and gather stakeholder input. In addition to written submissions, feedback will be compiled and used to support decision-making on the offset program and the process for developing offset protocols.

For further information on this initiative or engagement opportunity, please email prairie.resilience@gov.sk.ca using the subject line GHG Offsets Program.