Energy Crisis and Opportunity: Energy Development and Debate in Saskatchewan, 1969–1982

The 1970s energy crisis was a global phenomenon that opened a window of opportunity to debate the future of energy development. With the future of oil appearing uncertain, nations around the world faced questions about energy security and interest in a wide array of energy alternatives was piqued. This dissertation examines the unfolding of the energy crisis in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, an energy producing jurisdiction that stood to benefit from increasing energy prices and a wide range of available energy options, including fossil fuels, uranium, hydropower, and vibrant research into renewable energy and energy conservation technologies. The study focuses on social movements in the province, particularly socialist, Indigenous rights, and environmentalist organizers, and how they interpreted the energy crisis as an opportunity to advance visions for the future of the province in line with their values. The study tracks how these social movements engaged in debates about particular energy developments, such as a proposed dam on the Churchill River, a provincial uranium refinery, and an energy conservation demonstration home, and argues that those debates were fundamentally about agency with those movements demanding a say in decisions that were bound to shape the future of the province. Using a framework of polycrisis, this study highlights how social movements received and understood the energy crisis as a critical intersection of a variety of other crises including extractive colonialism, environmental degradation, and global imperialism. Because of this, they advocated for energy solutions that addressed these intersecting crises together. This dissertation shows that Saskatchewan social movements worked towards alternative futures that bolstered self-determination, including among Indigenous peoples, and that better supported healthier environments and communities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Fisher, Justin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Watson, Andrew

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Troupe, Cheryl
• Labelle, Kathryn
• Westman, Clinton
• Labelle, Maurice
• Loo, Tina

• Energy crisis
• Saskatchewan
• polycrisis
• social movements
• environmentalistm
• Indigenous rights
• socialism
• energy
• history

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/18425

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/18425