Check It Out: Common sense - a resource found on the prairies

By Joan Janzen

Canadians are known for being polite and apologetic. Which may be why there are t-shirts that say, “I’m sorry if I offended you with my common sense.”

An absence of common sense in government regulations is why more Canadians are expressing themselves on YouTube channels, including Quick Dick McDick from Saskatchewan. This boots-on-the-ground farmer had quite a bit to say about the Environment Minister’s latest policy, which he described as absolutely ridiculous. Ottawa’s proposal would require all provinces to phase out coal-generated electricity and replace it with renewables by 2035.

“Zero emissions in a province that averages 80% of its power generation from fossil fuels?” Quick asked. “Our only other options would be wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.” He noted although we have small modular reactors and uranium right here in Saskatchewan, it would be ten years before we can even think about the construction of any of these.

He pointed out that our peak grid demand jumps in the middle of winter when we lack wind and solar energy. “Last year, we had several days in a row when we had no output whatsoever from solar, and our wind turbines were actually putting a negative draw on our power grid.”

He described renewables as cool but not reliable. Yet the government is pushing our population off of coal-fired generation, trying to replace it with solar panels whose silicone wafers are almost exclusively manufactured by one of the biggest coal-burning countries on the planet.

During question period on May 17, Steven Guilbeault said violating environmental regulations banning the use of coal and gas-fired power after 2035 could result in criminal sanctions. He also said non-compliance would be a violation of Canada’s Criminal Code. According to the Environmental Protection Act, corporations that violate the terms could face a maximum of $1 million/day fines, while individuals could face three years imprisonment.

“Can you wrap your head around government saying if you do not purchase an electric vehicle, we’re going to fine you? Once you have that electric vehicle, you must charge it with renewable energy. If you use anything else, you will be considered a criminal in your own country. That’s where we’re at in Canada,” he observed.

And Quick didn’t waste any time sharing his response to the government’s newest policy. “Don’t think for two seconds at -45 degree temperatures in the middle of January, when renewable energy is working about as hard as a Canadian federal cabinet minister, that I’m going to give a xx!##* about your clean electricity regulations,” was his response. “I’m going to use whatever I’ve got to keep myself warm and alive.”

In response to the policy, Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan will use existing assets, including natural gas plants, until end of life, and the federal government’s standards for zero emission electrical generation by 2035 are unrealistic and unaffordable.

Another natural resource that is predominantly found on the prairies is “common sense.” That’s because boots-on-the-ground farmers and resource workers are the ones who are most concerned about the environment since it’s their livelihood.

Quick points out while the federal government is busy making unrealistic policies, here on the prairies, we’re sequestering carbon, keeping a healthy ecosystem, and sustainably keeping our planet fed.

As for the policy, he said, “I’m not going to comply with any of it. I’m actually done with it. Your climate activism is making life unaffordable for me, my parents, my grandparents, my community members, my fellow Saskatchewanians, my fellow Canadians, all while you openly advocate to have us freeze and starve in the dark.”

But he is willing to do what he’s been doing all along, polluting as little as possible, recycling as much as possible, sourcing his food locally and buying Canadian-made goods as much as possible. That’s how he plans to protect the environment.

He summed it up, saying if we all got together and said - no, that’s not going to work for us. We’re going to use what we have and keep planning towards a better future; they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

A step in the right direction would be to have an environment minister who is also a boots-on-the-ground farmer from the prairies because one of the most valuable resources found on the prairies is common sense.