The words "climate change" don't appear once in Saskatchewan's newly released 75-page 2024-25 budget. However, the province is making some investments into reducing emissions — and also facing higher costs driven by climate-related droughts and fires.Brown, dry, cracked earth is seen in front of yellow and green canola plants in the rural municipality of Dundurn in 2023. The area sought disaster relief because of the drought.
"That's one area we see climate change having a real economic cost, not only just the cost of homes burning and areas being threatened by smoke and having to evacuate, but also just the cost of fighting these fires is going up as climate change gets worse," Dolter said.What we can learn from Canada's record wildfire season, as a new one approaches
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan said seeing more money for producers during tough economic times is positive, but called on the province to do more to prepare for drought. The task force has been urging the province to adopt earlier mitigation measures, such as preventative burns, forest thinning, pruning and vegetation removal. Last year's fire season was intense, withClimate-fuelled wildfires testing the limits of Canada's aging water bombersThe government is providing the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency with $5.5-million for a deposit on four air tankers "to help manage wildfires in the province.
Last week, Saskatchewan's finance minister was asked what the province was doing to address or adapt to the consequences of climate change. He identified positive initiatives in the budget, saying good policies keep consumer rates affordable while tackling emissions. For example, the government's $140-million Clean Electricity Transition Grant for SaskPower, which supports clean electricity operating costs while keeping rates low.Saskatchewan is also seeing results from its at-home carbon pricing system, known as the OBPS , which targets large industrial and resource sector emitters.