This week, the Province of Saskatchewan is intervening in the Impact Assessment Act case, previously known as Bill C-69, which is before the Supreme Court of Canada.

The only provinces not taking part in the constitutional intervention are Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

In a news release, Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. “This is precisely the kind of continued, unconstitutional, federal infringement that led to our passing the Saskatchewan First Act. Clearly, most provinces agree that the IAA is a significant federal overreach that will stop future infrastructure and resource development in Canada.”

The government says their position is that this federal legislation constitutes an unconstitutional infringement of exclusive provincial jurisdiction in the area of resource development.

The challenge will be heard this week before the Supreme Court from March 22 to 23.

Environmental Consulting firm Golder Associates says the new legislation underlines the importance of considering the indirect impacts, not just the direct impacts of a project. Meanwhile the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says it will drive away investment by making it difficult to approve major projects like pipelines.